Pittsburgh shooting suspect dead after police shootout over eviction notice in Garfield: Updates
Police pronounced the suspect dead in the Pittsburgh shooting, which spanned hours in the neighbourhood of Garfield.
He was identified as 63-year-old William Hardison Sr, a source confirmed to The Independent; his son, William Hardison Jr, told WTAE that he had been begging his father to “stand down” and tried calling him throughout the day to no avail.
“The subject in this incident was pronounced deceased by @PghEMS at 5:08 p.m. EST,” Pittsbugh Public Safety tweeted after hours of gunshots being fired.
At approximately 11am ET on Wednesday, Pittsburgh Public Safety urged residents to avoid the area of the 4800 block of Broad Street and North Mathilda Street due to a shooting.
“This is an extremely active situation with shots continuing to be fired,” they wrote on Twitter/X about 20 minutes into the incident.
A reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said that “hundreds of rounds” were being fired and multiple law enforcement divisions were responding to the incident.
Nearly an hour later, around 12pm ET, officers began to evacuate residents in homes nearby and guide them away from the shooting and to safety.
The shooting began after deputies from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office went to serve an eviction notice to a resident when the suspect “turned violent and began shooting,” a spokesperson for the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office told The Independent.
He added that one sergeant suffered from “a minor non-gunfire related injury while avoiding the incoming gunfire. He is ok.”
Key Points
Police respond to ‘active shooter’ in Pittsburgh as ‘hundreds of rounds’ fired in Garfield neighbourhood
Shooting began after deputies tried to serve eviction notice
Map of shooting location
Officer reportedly injured during active shooting response
Police respond to ‘active shooter’ in Pittsburgh as ‘hundreds of rounds’ fired in Garfield neighbourhood
Wednesday 23 August 2023 17:21 , Ariana Baio
Officers were reportedly serving an eviction notice at a home and ‘the suspect turned violent and started shooting’
Kelly Rissman reports:
Police respond to ‘active shooter’ in Pittsburgh as ‘hundreds of rounds’ fired
WATCH: Police respond to active shooter in Pittsburgh
Wednesday 23 August 2023 17:24 , Ariana Baio
Local reporter Megan Guza shared a video of several police vehicles responding to an ‘active shooter situation’ in the neighbourhood of Garfield on Wednesday morning.
Massive police presence at active shooting scene in Garfield pic.twitter.com/IJ8VNEAHnQ
— Megan Guza (@meganguzaPG) August 23, 2023
Officers guiding residents to safety
Wednesday 23 August 2023 17:29 , Ariana Baio
For nearly an hour, residents in the neighbourhood of Garfield have been warned of an ongoing active shooter situation.
Police in the Pittsburgh Police Department said around noon they were evacuating people in houses close to the action. This includes houses in the 4800 block of Broad Street.
“If you are inside, please shelter in place, dial 911, and identify your address, location. Officers will be entering to help guide you to safety,” Pittsburgh Public Safety wrote on Twitter/X.
Shooting began after deputies tried to serve eviction notice
Wednesday 23 August 2023 17:33 , Ariana Baio
A spokesperson for the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the shooting began after deputies from the sheriff’s office tried to serve an eviction notice.
The suspect began shooting after the deputies went to the residence.
Nearby hospital on lockdown ‘out of caution'
Wednesday 23 August 2023 17:40 , Ariana Baio
The West Penn Hospital, located less than half a mile from the location of the shooter, is on lockdown out of caution, the Allegheny Health Network told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Though the hospital is on lockdown, security will allow people through a metal detector, “to ensure they aren’t standing out in the street in order to keep them safe.”
Map of shooting location
Wednesday 23 August 2023 17:45 , Ariana Baio
An hour and a half into situation shot are still being fired
Wednesday 23 August 2023 17:56 , Ariana Baio
More shots fired at active scene in Pittsburgh pic.twitter.com/wR2S9bqxew
— Megan Guza (@meganguzaPG) August 23, 2023
Officer reportedly injured during active shooting response
Wednesday 23 August 2023 18:10 , Ariana Baio
A sergeant from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office was injured after sustaining a non-gunfire-related injury, according to a reporter from The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
It is unclear what exactly transpired but the sergeant was “leading the detail” and sustained the “minor injury” while he was avoiding incoming gunfire.
The Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office told the reporter the officer is fine.
Nearby Children’s Hospital is not on lockdown but has ‘enhanced security'
Wednesday 23 August 2023 18:30 , Ariana Baio
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh said they were going to have “enhanced security” on campus and throughout the day as a result of the shooting nearby.
The Children’s Hospital, located approximately half a mile from the shooting location said because the suspect is “accounted for” by law enforcement there was no need to lockdown.
FBI assisting in shooting incident
Wednesday 23 August 2023 18:45 , Ariana Baio
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is assisting the Pittsburgh police in handling the active shooting situation, a local reporter tweeted.
#NOW: The FBI is now assisting at this active shooting in Garfield. @KDKA pic.twitter.com/7sWeKSTM5g
— MEGHAN SCHILLER (@MeghanKDKA) August 23, 2023
Gun control activist shares Pittsburgh shooting
Wednesday 23 August 2023 19:00 , Ariana Baio
Gun control activist, Fred Guttenberg, shared a breaking news story of the Pittsburgh shooting, reminding people of yet another shooting in the United States.
“Here we go again!!!” Mr Guttenberg wrote.
Here we go again!!!https://t.co/ndzZ9o3Mfb
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) August 23, 2023
Mr Guttenberg’s daughter died in the Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School shooting in Florida in 2018. He has often shared messages promoting gun control in America by commenting on shootings.
Suspected shooter is barricaded inside home
Wednesday 23 August 2023 19:15 , Ariana Baio
Pennsylvania State Police said that the suspected shooter in Pittsburgh has themselves barricaded inside the home where they have administered rounds of gunshots.
“This turns right into an active shooter situation then it proceeds into a barricaded aspect inside a house,” a police officer said in a video.
“We’re actively working with all emergency crew here on scene to make sure we end this in the safest way possible.”
#BREAKING: We just heard from PA State Police for the first time as active gunfire rings out here in Garfield @KDKA pic.twitter.com/lTU567ptrL
— MEGHAN SCHILLER (@MeghanKDKA) August 23, 2023
Pennsylvania State. Police will investigate incident
Wednesday 23 August 2023 19:20 , Ariana Baio
The Pittsburgh Public Safety Office said the Pennsylvania State Police will investigate the active shooting situation “at its conclusion.”
While the Pittsburgh Police are still leading control of the incident, the state police as well as the FBI are involved to help.
Wednesday 23 August 2023 19:40 , Kelly Rissman
There is only one suspect
Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told CNN there is only one suspect, although this individual has not been publicly identified.
Although the spokesperson could not confirm the exact location of the home to The Independent, a local reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said it appears as though officers are “starting the process of forcing their way into the Broad Street home with equipment.”
Pennsylvania State Police previously said that the suspected shooter is barricaded inside the home amid massive rounds of gunfire.
National gun violence organisation speaks out
Wednesday 23 August 2023 20:00 , Ariana Baio
Amid the active shooting situation in Pittsburgh, a gun violence prevention organisation is using the shooting as an example of the necessary need for gun violence prevention.
“The uniquely easy access to firearms in America allows minor disputes to quickly escalate and turn deadly,” Kris Brown president of Brady: United Against Gun Violence said in a statement.
“Just one person with a firearm can result in hundreds of rounds being fired and shut down an entire neighbourhood, while this is terrifying, today is not unique considering every five hours, someone in Pennsylvania is shot and killed. Guns should not be allowed to terrorise our neighbourhood and put our lives at risk.”
Wednesday 23 August 2023 20:20 , Kelly Rissman
According to the White House
“The President has also been briefed on reports of the active shooter situation in Pittsburgh.”
President Joe Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on the other side of the state. The Independent has reached out to the White House for futher comments.
Wednesday 23 August 2023 20:45 , Kelly Rissman
How the hours-long shootout began
A spokesperson for the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office said that “our office went to the address to serve an eviction notice and that is when the actor turned violent and began shooting.”A source told CBS News that the home where the gunfire is erupting was purchased at a sheriff’s sale, and deputies were going to evict a man who was “basically squatting,” knowing it could turn violent.
A public safety announcement urging the public to avoid parts of the Garfield neighbourhood was released at 11am; the shooting has spanned hours since.
Wednesday 23 August 2023 21:10 , Kelly Rissman
Attempted contact with the suspect may be underway
Local reports suggest that officers are trying to contact the suspect. A high-ranking official” told WPXI that “the SWAT team is attempting to negotiate with the suspect.”
A reporter at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweeted, “There was some brief gunfire. Now it sounds like they’re trying to hail via megaphone.”
Wednesday 23 August 2023 21:19 , Kelly Rissman
The scene is still ‘active and ongoing’
Pittsburgh Public Safety wrote at 4.14pm—over five hours after the shooting was first reported—that it remains active.
“Updates will be provided when available. We ask for everyone’s patience until the conclusion of this incident,” Pittsburgh Public Safety tweeted.
One suspect is involved in the case, according to reports, but has caused massive turbulence in the area.
Wednesday 23 August 2023 21:38 , Kelly Rissman
Pittsburgh’s “City in the Streets” event is postponed due to the ongoing shootout
The event, which is described as the mayor’s initiative to for the public to interact with the government officials: “Celebrate with us and interact with all of our departments and select authorities in a block party setting at different locations each month around the city.”
In a tweet, it was announced that the event will be postponed as the situation is not yet over.
We have decided to postpone tonight’s City in the Streets to allow our public safety bureaus to focus on the ongoing situation in Garfield today.
Stay tuned to our social media channels and on the City in the Streets EngagePGH page for an updated date. https://t.co/Xu2YmXbEMW pic.twitter.com/jSRPVcoMWg— City of Pittsburgh (@Pittsburgh) August 23, 2023
Wednesday 23 August 2023 21:55 , Kelly Rissman
There appears to be a respite from the gunfire
A reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweeted, “Things have been quiet for a while now. Armored vehicle heading into the alley behind Broad Street now.”
Gunshots have persisted on and off for nearly six hours as the suspect has yet to be stopped.
Wednesday 23 August 2023 22:30 , Kelly Rissman
A neighbor laments the gun violence crisis: “I’m so sick of this”
Active shooter in Pittsburgh neighborhood 10 minutes from me and right around the corner from my aunt, shooter is actively shooting at police right now and shot two drones down, ughhhh I'm so sick of this.
— Carmen Watkins (@CarmenWbluewave) August 23, 2023
Wednesday 23 August 2023 22:38 , Kelly Rissman
Pittsburgh active shooter William Hardison Sr is dead after hours-long standoff
William Hardison Sr, 63, has been identified as the suspect in the Pittsburgh shooting, a source confirmed to The Independent; police pronounced him dead after an hours-long shootout.
The suspect was pronounced deceased by Pittsburgh EMS at 5.08pm, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety.
Sources told Channel 11 that Hardison believed he was a “sovereign citizen,” and therefore exempt from the law.
Read the full story
Pittsburgh active shooter William Hardison is dead after hours-long standoff, police announce
Police defend ‘deadly force’ in Pittsburgh standoff
Wednesday 23 August 2023 23:08 , Graeme Massie
Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus told reporters that although they sent seven deputies to execute the order, they never expected the violent response from the suspect.
“We certainly did not expect this…we had no information that this individual was this dangerous,” he said.
“He had a lot of ammunition in that house. We were all strapped with ammunition but all had to call for more ammunition. We tried to give him every opportunity to come out but it elevated to the swat team’s response.
And he added: “We tried to make contact, we were outside the hose called for him tried to bring him out peacefully to execute the order but clearly that was not in the cards today.
“We tried talking to him to bring him out to try and talk to him to implement a dialogue with him but that was unsuccessful, when we made contact at the door it drastically changed and we had to use deadly force.”
Police defend ‘deadly force’ as Pittsburgh active shooter is killed during hours-long standoff
Wednesday 23 August 2023 23:25 , Graeme Massie
The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene after extensive gunfire.
Police defend ‘deadly force’ as Pittsburgh active shooter is killed during standoff
Was man who waged fatal gun battle with Pittsburgh police a political extremist?
Thursday 24 August 2023 00:55 , Josh Marcus
William Hardison Sr had been due to be evicted from his home in the Pittsburgh suburb of Garfield on Wednesday 23 August.
When sheriff’s deputies showed up at around 11am to serve the eviction order, the 63-year-old opened fire sparking an hours-long lockdown of the neighbourhood.
Armed officers from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburgh police, the FBI and SWAT crews descended on the densely populated area in the northeast of the city.
Hundreds of shots were fired across several hours in exchanges between Hardison and law enforcement officers, as neighbours’ homes were peppered with bullets.
Kelly Rissman and Bevan Hurley report.
Gunman who died after multi-hour shootout with police was a ‘Sovereign citizen’
14:32 , Kelly Rissman
A statement from Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey:
Pittsburgh – I ask for you to join us in prayer tonight for the entire community of Garfield, a peaceful neighborhood that was home to an unfortunate tragedy today.
I want to thank all of our federal, state, and local law enforcement officials here today who worked to keep this neighborhood and our city safe, as well as to our trauma response team who has been on scene helping provide support to those who needed it. Thank you to Governor Josh Shapiro for providing us with state resources, and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald for working to provide the city with additional support.
I would also like to thank the community for their cooperation as we mobilized our response.
As a city, we are committed to caring for all those who have been harmed, and we will continue working over the next several days to connect this neighborhood to mental health and trauma support services.
15:00 , Kelly Rissman
The Pennsylvania State Police is taking over the investigation into the over-six-hour shootout:
