Pa. police search for ‘sick individual’ after items thrown into yards; Pets poisoned, 1 killed
NOW ON PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. A MAN ALLEGEDLY ROBBED THIS PROTESTER OF HIS AMERICAN FLAG WHILE STANDING ON THIS STREET CORNER HERE IN GREENSBURG ON TUESDAY NIGHT. WE HAVE VIDEO FROM THE PROTESTER WHEN IT HAPPENED, AND WE’LL HEAR THEIR SIDE OF THE STORY THAT’S AHEAD. ALL PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL NOW BE REMOTE DURING THE NFL DRAFT. WHY? THE SUPERINTENDENT TELLS ME HE MADE THAT CHOICE BEFORE THE NFL DRAFT. THEATER CAN BE BUILT HERE ON THE NORTH SHORE AROUND 86. TREES HAVE TO GO FROM ACRISURE STADIUM GROUNDS. A LOOK AT THE PROGRESS TONIGHT. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR AT SEVEN STARTS NOW. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US ON TV. I’M RYAN RECKER. WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS. A MAN DIED FOLLOWING A SHOOTING IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS WAS THE SCENE ON FENWAY ALLEY AND MARSHALL-SHADELAND POLICE WERE CALLED HERE JUST BEFORE 3:00 THIS AFTERNOON FOR A SIX ROUND SHOT. SPOTTER CALL. A MAN HAD MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS AND WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. YES. THAT THAT THAT’S NOT UNUSUAL FOR TO HEAR GUNFIRE IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN THE AREA BECAUSE IT’S BEEN KNOWN TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE GUNFIRE BECAUSE THERE’S DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT’S GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. SO THAT’S, THAT’S CALMING. THE VICTIM HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AND POLICE ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR SUSPECTS AS THE INVESTIGATION IS ONGOING. ELSEWHERE, A MAN WAS HOSPITALIZED AFTER BEING SHOT IN THE STOMACH OUTSIDE OF THE GALAXY LOUNGE ON KELLY STREET IN HOMEWOOD SOUTH AND NOT FAR FROM THERE. A SECOND SCENE IN THE PARKING LOT OF CC AC WHERE POLICE SAY A MAN WAS SHOT IN THE STOMACH. FIRST RESPONDERS GAVE HIM A BLOOD TRANSFUSION. HE WAS THEN RUSHED TO. THE HOSPITAL IS EXPECTED TO BE OKAY. AT THIS TIME, THERE IS NO INFORMATION ON ANY SUSPECTS. A LOCAL PROTESTER CLAIMS TO HAVE BEEN SHOVED AND ROBBED LAST NIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE WESTMORELAND COUNTY COURTHOUSE, AND OUR REPORTER ED DIORIO HAS THAT STORY TONIGHT FROM GREENSBURG. EVERY DAY SINCE LAST JUNE, GREG POWERS HAS STOOD AT THAT SPOT HERE ALONG MAIN STREET IN GREENSBURG WITH A RISE UP SIGN AND MULTIPLE FLAGS AND PEACEFUL PROTESTS. YESTERDAY, A MAN CUT ACROSS TRAFFIC AND NOW FACES MULTIPLE CRIMINAL CHARGES BECAUSE OF THIS PROTEST. THIS MAN JUST ASSAULTED ME, STOLE MY PROPERTY, DROVE ON THE SIDEWALK RIGHT THERE. NOW HE JUST RAN DOWN A ONE WAY STREET THE WRONG WAY. THAT’S PART OF A CELL PHONE VIDEO. GREG POWERS TOOK ON TUESDAY. CITY OF GREENSBURG POLICE SAY JUSTIN BOWSER DROVE ACROSS TRAFFIC ONTO THE SIDEWALK, SHOVED AND FORCIBLY TOOK POWERS UPSIDE DOWN AMERICAN FLAG, AND THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE WRONG WAY ON OTTERMAN STREET. POWERS WASN’T INJURED AND IS BACK ON THE STREET AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. HE DOESN’T WANT TUESDAY’S INCIDENT TO DETER OTHERS FROM EXERCISING THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND PROTESTING, ESPECIALLY WITH ANOTHER PROTEST BEING PLANNED FOR MARCH 28TH. AND PEOPLE LIKE THAT WHO CHOOSE VIOLENCE TO TRY AND SILENCE PEOPLE WHO ARE SIMPLY PEACEFULLY STANDING UP FOR OUR RIGHTS ARE GOING TO LOSE OVER TIME. OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE SIMILAR THINGS IN THE PAST, IT’S NOT STOPPING ME THEN. IT’S NOT GOING TO STOP ME NOW. CITY OF GREENSBURG POLICE ARE AWARE OF THE NO PROTEST THAT’S GOING TO TAKE PLACE HERE ON MARCH 28TH. AS FOR BOWSER, HE FACES CHARGES INCLUDING HARASSMENT, ROBBERY AND THEFT, COVERING WESTMORELAND COUNTY IN GREENSBURG AT DIORIO. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. OKAY, TURNING OUR ATTENTION NOW TO PITTSBURGH’S ACTION WEATHER, A LIVE LOOK OUTSIDE JUST AFTER 7:00 ON THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. AFTER SOME COLD TEMPERATURES AND EVEN SOME SNOW IN RECENT DAYS, HERE COMES OUR WARM UP AS WE CLOSE IN ON THE FIRST OFFICIAL DAY OF SPRING. SO GOOD NEWS AHEAD OF US. HERE IS METEOROLOGIST BRIAN JUNIOR IS HERE WITH THE CERTIFIED MOST ACCURATE FORECAST. YEAH. TEMPERATURES ARE FINALLY HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION ACROSS WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA. AND WITH OUR WARM UP COMES THE CHANCE TO SEE A COUPLE OF RAIN SHOWERS. NO REAL BIG CHANCES FOR US, BUT A COUPLE SMALL ONES STARTING TOMORROW. A LITTLE BETTER ONE THOUGH ON FRIDAY AS A WEAK SYSTEM DIVES IN. THIS WILL BE SOME QUICK MOVING LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS CROSSING THROUGH WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA WILL BE VERY HIT OR MISS, AND THEY’LL BE FAST MOVING AS WELL. NOT A WASHOUT, BUT YOU MAY COME UNDERNEATH A RAIN SHOWER ON FRIDAY ESPECIALLY. WE WILL DRY OUT FOR SATURDAY. WE’LL PUSH 70 ON SUNDAY BEFORE ANOTHER RAIN CHANCE GETS HERE. AS WE HEAD LATE IN THE DAY, TEMPERATURES ARE HOLDING NEAR THE FREEZING MARK FOR A COUPLE DEGREES ON EITHER SIDE, WITH THE CLOUDS AND A SOUTHERLY WIND. TEMPERATURES WILL HOLD PRETTY STEADY THROUGH THE NIGHT. WE’LL CLIMB TO 50 THOUGH TOMORROW. JUST A SMALL RAIN CHANCE. 60 ON FRIDAY DESPITE THE SHOWERS NEAR 70 ON SUNDAY AND EVEN BEHIND THAT, TEMPERATURES STAYING SEASONAL. WE’LL TALK ABOUT THAT RAIN CHANCE FOR YOU ON SUNDAY SO YOU CAN PLAN AHEAD. THAT’S COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. WELL, SOME BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS ARE MAKING CHANGES WHEN THE NFL DRAFT COMES TO TOWN NEXT MONTH. PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS PLANS TO GO TO REMOTE REMOTE LEARNING AND REPORTER MARCIE CIPRIANI HAS REACTION FROM PARENTS ABOUT THAT DECISION. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS TELLS ME HE UNDERSTANDS KEEPING KIDS HOME DURING THE NFL DRAFT CAN BE A CHALLENGE FOR SOME PARENTS, BUT HE SAYS HE MADE THE DECISION FOR THEIR SAFETY. WE KNOW IT’S NOT IDEAL, BUT IT IS A REALITY OF A CITY HOSTING A BIG EVENT WHERE WE’RE EXPECTING ABOUT 500,000 TO 700,000 VISITORS INTO OUR CITY, AND IT WILL COMPLETELY CREATE SORT OF AN EXCITING TIME, BUT ALSO SOME CHALLENGING TIMES WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY, TRANSPORTATION, AND SAFETY. PITTSBURGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR WAYNE WALTERS TELLS ME THE DECISION TO GO REMOTE FROM WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22ND, THE DAY BEFORE THE DRAFT THROUGH THE 24TH CAME AFTER A MEETING WITH THE NFL AND PITTSBURGH POLICE. I’M ACTUALLY HAPPY THAT THE DISTRICT DECIDED TO DO REMOTE LEARNING, AND IT WAS A DECISION. PARENTS WE SPOKE TO AGREED WITH. SINCE MANY STUDENTS TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND IT CAN BE QUITE CONFUSING. AND, YOU KNOW, ADD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DOWN THERE. WHAT PARENTS JASLYN WORTHY AND VALERIE WEBB ALLMAN DIDN’T AGREE WITH IS THE DECISION TO HAVE THE KIDS WORK OFFLINE AT THEIR OWN PACE, RATHER THAN ONLINE WITH THEIR TEACHER? ONE DAY, HERE AND THERE FOR A SNOW DAY IS ONE THING, BUT THREE DAYS IN A ROW? THAT’S A THAT’S A BIG GAP WHEN WE DON’T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE MAKING UP ANY OF THAT TIME. DOCTOR WALTERS SAYS THE DECISION TO ALLOW THE KIDS TO COMPLETE ASSIGNMENTS WHEN THEY CHOOSE WAS TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO ENJOY THE DRAFT, TOO, SOMETHING HE CALLS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY. DOCTOR WALTERS ALSO SAYS HE UNDERSTANDS THE CHALLENGES THAT BRINGS, BUT THAT IS ALSO WHY HE TELLS ME THEY CHOSE TO MAKE THE DECISION TO GO REMOTE A MONTH AHEAD OF THE DRAFT, AND SO WE WERE THE FIRST TO COMMUNICATE PUBLICLY. BUT WE ANTICIPATE MANY OTHER SCHOOLS WHO ARE IN THE AREA WILL BE DOING SIMILAR THINGS. I DID REACH OUT TO SEVERAL OTHER CITY SCHOOLS TO SEE IF THEY PLAN TO GO REMOTE DURING THE NFL DRAFT. I HEARD BACK SO FAR FROM TWO. THE ELLIS SCHOOL AND WINCHESTER TO HAVE CLASSES AS SCHEDULED. WHEN WE HEAR BACK FROM THE OTHERS, WE WILL PASS THAT INFORMATION TO YOU. COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY FROM SCHENLEY PARK, MARCIE CIPRIANI, PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR AND LOOKING AT ONGOING DRAFT PREPARATION WORK. TREES ARE ALREADY BEING REMOVED ON THE NORTH SHORE TO MAKE WAY FOR THE DRAFT STAGE. REPORTER KALEA GUNDERSON HAS THE LATEST ON THAT PROCESS. TREE REMOVAL CREWS WORKING ALONG ROONEY BOULEVARD TODAY OUTSIDE OF ACRISURE STADIUM. TAKING THESE TREES DOWN TO THE STUMP IN PREPARATION FOR NEXT WEEK. TODAY WE’RE PROBABLY GOING TO DO RIGHT AROUND 20 TREES WITH A LIST OF AROUND 86 TREES THAT HAVE TO GO BEFORE THE MAIN STAGE FOR THE NFL. DRAFT CAN BE BUILT OUTSIDE ACRISURE STADIUM. OUR GOAL IS TO BE WRAPPED UP WITH ALL THE TREE AND SHRUB REMOVAL BY NEXT FRIDAY, WHICH IS THE 27TH OF MARCH, AND THEN THE NFL IS GOING TO BE IN TOWN AND THEY’RE GOING TO START THEIR BUILD PROCESS. SO THAT’S OUR GOAL IS NEXT FRIDAY. AND AFTER THE DRAFT, THE CITY FORESTER PLANS TO HAVE A MAJORITY OF THE TREES REPLANTED. WE’RE TAKING THE STUMPS DOWN LOW ENOUGH SO THAT AFTER THE DRAFT IS OVER AND THE REPLANTING IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO COME BACK AND DO WHAT THEY NEED. AS FAR AS BEAUTIFYING THE AREA AND REPLANTING THE TREES. WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS CONSTRUCTION WORK BEGINS. AND AGAIN, THE WORK ON THE NFL DRAFT THEATER IS EXPECTED TO GET UNDERWAY HERE NEXT WEEK, COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY ON THE NORTH SHORE KALEA GUNDERSON PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. AND A REMINDER WTAE CHANNEL 4 IS YOUR HOME FOR THE NFL DRAFT. YOU CAN CATCH UP WITH ALL
Pa. police search for ‘sick individual’ after items thrown into yards; Pets poisoned, 1 killed
Updated: 9:10 PM EDT Mar 18, 2026
Altoona police said they are working to track down a “sick individual” who they say threw items into yards that poisoned some pets, leading to the death of at least one of them.VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4The police department said in a post on Facebook Wednesday that several reports have been made “within the last few days, maybe a week,” of an unknown individual throwing items into yards. The items, which were not specifically mentioned, have “poisoned some animals.” Officials said at least one pet who ingested the mystery items has died. Altoona police said the incidents are currently happening in the Fairview area, 25th Avenue and 12th Street. They said the items have been found within a several block radius. “Please be aware of items that may be on your property that are foreign and hazardous,” authorities said in the post. Police are asking residents to check any home surveillance video and to spread the word. “Please share this so we can catch and hold this sick individual accountable,” the department continued.Anyone with information is asked to call 814-949-2499 and speak with Animal Control Officer Williams.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking new
ALTOONA, Pa. —
Altoona police said they are working to track down a “sick individual” who they say threw items into yards that poisoned some pets, leading to the death of at least one of them.
VIDEO: Top stories on Pittsburgh’s Action News 4
The police department said in a post on Facebook Wednesday that several reports have been made “within the last few days, maybe a week,” of an unknown individual throwing items into yards. The items, which were not specifically mentioned, have “poisoned some animals.”
Officials said at least one pet who ingested the mystery items has died.
Altoona police said the incidents are currently happening in the Fairview area, 25th Avenue and 12th Street. They said the items have been found within a several block radius.
“Please be aware of items that may be on your property that are foreign and hazardous,” authorities said in the post.
Police are asking residents to check any home surveillance video and to spread the word.
“Please share this so we can catch and hold this sick individual accountable,” the department continued.
Anyone with information is asked to call 814-949-2499 and speak with Animal Control Officer Williams.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking new