Former city employee being investigated regarding operation of Pittsburgh's security cameras

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh's Office of Municipal Investigations is investigating a former city employee regarding the operation of the city’s security camera, according to Mayor Bill Peduto.

According to the mayor, the former employee was not notifying the contractor when a camera stopped working.

"Instead, what was coming back was - that all is fine. Here's a picture, it works fine, but further investigation we found those pictures to be dated back several years," Peduto said.

Channel 11 uncovered the investigation after a security camera near the scene of a shooting Tuesday night at the Wood Street T station was pointed in a different direction.

A 16-year-old is being charged as an adult in connection with

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Denzel Glover, 16, of Northview Heights, is facing three felony charges, including attempted homicide.

The victim was found just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday outside of the busy Wood Street T Station. The shooting prompted authorities to close the station for about an hour.

A Pittsburgh police spokesperson initially said the victim had been shot with a pellet gun, but the hospital to which the victim was taken later confirmed he had actually been shot with a .22-caliber firearm. The victim was upgraded from critical to stable condition Tuesday night.

Police said the victim was shot in front of the 7-Eleven store on Sixth Street. He then ran across Wood Street and collapsed from his injuries outside the T station.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by Channel 11 News, the suspect was seen on surveillance video at about the same time, running onto a Port Authority bus. The camera closest to the station was turned the other way.

Peduto said the maintenance of the cameras has been given to the police bureau, and starting next year, will be part of Public Safety.

According to Peduto, the maintenance of the security cameras uses federal funds, so federal authorities could become involved.

When the driver realized the suspect was on the bus, he called police, who escorted all the passengers off the bus on the North Side and arrested the suspect. The criminal complaint said that police found the gun inside Glover's book bag. Police confirmed Wednesday that Glover is a Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) student.

Peduto

, saying, in part, that police patrols will be increased downtown during after-school hours.

"We will be increasing both uniformed and plainclothes officer patrols in critical areas downtown during after-school hours," the statement said. "Nationwide, we are witnessing an escalation of violent crime within younger populations. The best way to deter these actions is to offer young, disenfranchised youth opportunity before they ever find themselves in these type of situations."

An increased police presence was evident in downtown Pittsburgh on Wednesday, but some parents remain on edge, especially since more PPS students than ever will be downtown next week.

Starting Monday, more than a dozen schools in the district will require their ninth to 12th grade students to use Port Authority buses to get to and from classes.

“Who's to say that's not going to happen to my 12th grader? Because he's going to be put right in the middle of this area,” parent Christie Hudyma said.

PPS announced the move Wednesday to "improve bus transportation.” Officials said ending yellow bus service at two dozen schools, including SciTech, "ensures enough buses to provide elementary-aged students adequate transportation."

The shooting Tuesday is the latest in a wave of violence downtown. On July 4, a shooting at Seventh Street and Liberty Avenue wounded four people. Three days later, there was a stabbing at Market Square, and there have been at least two fights outside the Wood Street T Station involving multiple people.

"This is an 'all hands on deck' thing. The good thing is everyone is taking it seriously and we are treating it that way,” Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay said.

Prior to Tuesday's shooting, McLay had already met with school officials, Port Authority police and the U.S. attorney to discuss ways to stop the violence. He said he will be meeting with the PPS superintendent on Thursday.

"We are communicating with the schools and our various partners who are involved in understanding who these kids are and where they are going," McLay said.

Cox Media Group