Crime & Safety

News Nearby: Multiple People Shot in Oakland at Western Psych, Two Dead

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Two people are dead and seven people are wounded after a shooting inside Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC shortly before 2 p.m. Thursday.

One of the two people confirmed dead is the shooter, according to the official UPMC media relations Twitter account.

The seven people wounded were taken to UPMC Presbyterian, which is across the street from Western Psych. The seven who were injured are expected "to survive and do well," said Dr. Don Yealy, chief of emergency medicine at UPMC, at a 6 p.m news conference.

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One of the injured was taken to surgery, four others will require surgery, and two were evaluated and released, according to Yealy.

During the news conference, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said the shooter, who opened fire in the lobby, had two semi-automatic handguns.

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No victims' names were released.

"This is a sad day, a tragic day, a senseless day," said Ravenstahl.

He noted that University of Pittsburgh police were in the building within minutes.

“Their quick response saved lives today,” Ravenstahl said. One officer was grazed with a bullet but is doing well, the mayor said.

Five of the injured are Western Psych employees, according to Claudia Roth, president of the facility.

She said Western Psych has 289 patients and about 2,000 clinical staff members.

The police have set up a shooting hotline for people trying to get in touch with people inside Western Psych or for people who might have left belongings behind in the building. The phone number is 412-623-7724.

A notice on Western Psych's webpage encourages readers to follow news on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/upmcnews

The University of Pittsburgh is on spring break this week.

The Post-Gazette is reporting updates here.

UPMC's media relations team is reporting updates on its Twitter account.

Were you in Oakland when the shooting took place this afternoon? Do you know anyone inside Western Psych? Share your story in the comments below. Upload any pictures you may have taken to the photo box above.


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