No arrests in shooting of Chinese student

Updated: 2016-07-11 11:00

By NIU YUE in New York(chinadaily.com.cn)

  Print Mail Large Medium  Small 分享按钮 0

No arrests have been made in the July 4 shootings in Pittsburgh that wounded four people, including one student from China, according to Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Sonya Toler, who said police are still looking for the gunmen involved.

On the night of July 4th in Pittsburgh, gunfire erupted in the area of 7th Street and Liberty Avenue following the city's fireworks celebration of Independence Day.

Police said that none of the four people wounded appeared to be targets of the gunfire, which erupted during an argument among groups of youths.

Wang, the Chinese student wounded, had gone to downtown Pittsburgh to watch the firework show when he took a stray bullet in the head shortly after 10:30 pm. According to police, she had been listed as critical but was later listed in stable condition.

Her mother, who was in China when the incident occurred, flew to Pittsburgh after learning the news.

Two officials from China's Consulate General in New York also went to Pittsburgh, where they met with local police and school officials to ensure the student was in good condition and to help the mother.

"We got detailed updates about the incident from the police," consulate officer Ma Chao told reporters from the Xinhua news agency. "We also expressed our expectation for the local police to provide protection and assistance to any Chinese students in need."

A news release from Pittsburgh's department of public safety indicated that three other people were injured in the shooting and all were in stable condition. The youngest among the three was a 15-year-old girl.

"It does not appear that the victims were involved in the argument that led to the gun fire," said Assistant Police Chief Thomas Stangrecki in a news conference.

According to the police, the gunshots were fired as two young males were arguing after the fireworks display.

Police also suspect that numerous fights earlier in downtown Pittsburgh involving up to 100 teenagers may have led to the shooting incident.

Police Chief Cameron McLay also expressed his concern that the large crowds attracted to the fireworks event made it difficult for the police to control the situation.

"One of the things we've been working on is looking at the model of how we manage these things," McLay said during the news conference.

Nancy Kong in New York contributed to this story.

0