Pittsburgh Police are still searching for those responsible for the shooting death of a 1-year-old boy in Spring Hill. Officials appealed directly to the public Tuesday to submit any information that could help their investigation.
Zykier Young was struck by a stray bullet as he slept in his bed Monday evening. Investigators said the bullet was fired outside before traveling through a window and two walls and striking Young inside a home in the 100 block of Rhine Place.
Officers arrived at the scene just after 6 p.m. and found Young bleeding from a gunshot wound to the head. Officials said a responding officer drove to the hospital as two others worked to control the bleeding in the back of the cruiser. The child later died at the hospital.
Police are looking for information about multiple shooters in the case, according to Major Crimes Commander Victor Joseph. Investigators believe a shootout took place near the apartment complex and a stray bullet from that scene is what struck Young. Joseph said evidence does not indicate that the home in which the child was sleeping was targeted.
“My heart breaks for the family,” Police Chief Scott Schubert said. “It’s senseless.” He also expressed sympathy for the officers who responded to the scene and attempted to save the child. “This is something they’re going to have to live with for the rest of their life,” he said.
Police have obtained surveillance footage and ballistics evidence from the scene. Commander Joseph declined to give further details noting the investigation is still, “very active.”
Police did not provide a description of the shooters. No arrests have been made.
Wendell Hissrich, Pittsburgh Public Safety Director, vowed to use all resources available to police to apprehend those responsible for the shooting. He said police may work with other state and local agencies to investigate the death of the 1-year-old.
The shooting in Spring Hill is part of an uptick in gun violence in the city over the last week, according to police. Officials said there have been 10 shootings over the last seven days, five of which were fatal. Police don’t believe the shootings are connected.
Officials are asking the public to come forward with information about any of the recent shootings, noting no arrests have been made in these cases yet.
“Please, if you have any piece of information, anything, please come forward,” pleaded Assistant Chief Lavonnie Bickerstaff Tuesday. Witnesses are asked to call police headquarters.
