[Updated at 1:59 p.m.] The man suspected of taking a hostage in Pittsburgh's Gateway Center high-rise Friday morning has surrendered peacefully, and his hostage was not harmed, Pittsburgh Police Chief Nathan Harper said.
[Updated at 1:20 p.m.]Police are negotiating with a "relatively calm" gunman believed to be holding at least one person hostage in a downtown Pittsburgh high-rise, the city's police chief said Friday.
Police have identified the man, a former military member with a criminal record, and they brought his mother to the scene, Chief Nathan Harper said.
The suspect walked into CW Breitsman Associates' office Friday morning and asked for a particular man, so police believe a male hostage was targeted, Harper said. CW Breitsman handles money for pension funds. The chief said the gunman never worked there, and it's unclear how he was related to the company.
The situation is contained to one room of a suite on the 16th floor of Gateway Center Building No. 3, Harper said. As of 10:55 a.m., no one had been hurt and no shots had been fired, he added.
Police received calls shortly after 8:15 a.m., reporting a man with a gun. Some witnesses reported he was carrying two duffel bags. Harper said the suspect also claimed to have a bomb.
Several people who work in the building told local television stations that police had evacuated them from the building. Harper said since the incident was contained to one room, evacuations were minimal, and people were still occupying other parts of the skyscraper.
Jim Garra, who works at AXA on the 16th floor, told WTAE that when he arrived at work around 8:10 a.m., security officers were milling about. When he took the elevator to his office, he found a commotion, including a woman he described as "hysterical, on the phone," describing an intruder in the building. Garra said he locked the door to his office until police came to evacuate it.
Public transportation has been shut down at Gateway Center, and police have blocked off nearby roads as well.
an English Teacher that can't spell "Grammar." Interesting :p
I hope they will all be ok. Maybe the bad guy will order pizza as suggested above. May as well make the best of a bad situation.
@Tom.. Im from Pittsburgh. Well five miles from the downtown area.
Any bets he's a recently fired ex-employee?
WHY do CxOs think they can throw people out like yesterdays garbage & not pay a price for destroying the lives of ex-employees & their families?
Clearly you are not an "Engligh" teacher Shirelle.
There is Pittsburg, TX and Pittsburgh, PA...two different places. Grammar has no effect on the spelling of proper names.
Hah, didn't notice that. Fail troll is fail.
If those hostages all had guns, this would be over by now.
Unfortunately some of the offices do not allow you to carry.
it would be a sure thing if the hostages also had bombs
I lived in Pitsburgh during the 1970's. It was a nice place. The bicentennial celebration in 1976 was sooo fun.
Anyone much remember the 1976 bicentennial celebration? They made a really big deal of it all over the US. It was fun. Everyone wearing Uncle Sam and patriotic hats. It was a happy time.
Now you must wear Uncle Obama hats and Obama Flags.
You got his political leanings from a post saying he liked Pittsbugh i 1976? Wow, you DO knowitall!
So many trollish comments, and some of you are arguing with them – or even agreeing with them.
*nod*
That's nothing. Here in Alberta, the soil is so rich you don't have to grow anything. You just eat the soil. It tastes like a sort meaty chocolate cake.
Breaking news is this guy is an irrate Pirate fan and the hostage is Neil Huntington.
Good idea. Sign me up.
Now that was funny.
Finally! Something worthy of national news. And a gun is involved to boot!
he's also on facebook leaving his number for everyone and adding people as friends.......Klein thaxton
The gunman stated he will surrender when Mitt Romney releases his tax returns.
He's a goner...
Are you serious???? You can't spell Pittsburgh, you can't spell grammar.....and you can't spell english. Yet you are on a computer where you could easily look up such things. Actually, stay on here. We don't need you teaching kids today. And for you Pittsburgh dissers – PLEASE come visit before passing judgement on my fair city (best place to live, best entrance view to a city, 2nd best scenic drive in America atop Mt Washington, the list goes on). What do YOU have?
ISusan -I left Pittsburgh years ago and moved south. I still miiss it! There is no place like home – those hills, valleys, the rugged terrain, those mountains. Such beauty!
We just took a weekend trip to Pittsburgh. Great city. Hip, fun, beautiful.
You go girl! Rep our beautiful city.....
pittsburgh sucks.
Yes, Pittsburgh is a great city. Great view, great cost of living, exceptionally high level of crime(in the top 20 most dangerous places in the US). Truly a wonderful place to live.
No "e" in judgment.
@Ceyan Actually, there is one "e" in judgment. Look again! 😉
LIKE !! your comment ,