WITH HOW THAT TEENAGER FOUGHT BACK. ACCORDING TO THIS CRIMINAL COMPLAINT, 35 YEAR OLD WILLIAM GREGORY BROKE INTO THIS HOME THROUGH THAT WINDOW, CLAIMING TO BE AN ICE AGENT. AND INVESTIGATORS SAY HE HAD A KNIFE, THEN TRIED TO STEAL A PLAYSTATION. COULD YOU IMAGINE COMING HOME OR COMING DOWN THE STEPS AND SOMEBODY IN YOUR HOME? FOR RESIDENTS IN THIS BELTZHOOVER NEIGHBORHOOD, THE FEAR THAT THIS FAMILY MUST HAVE FELT IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE. I BELIEVE THAT IS A HISPANIC HOME. YOU KNOW, AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS VERY DIVERSE. AND THEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY FRAUDULENTLY ACTING LIKE THEY WANT TO BE ICE AND THEN COME IN AND INVADE THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE UP MY COMMUNITY. BUT POLICE SAY A BOY INSIDE THE HOME FOUGHT BACK, PROTECTING HIS FAMILY. ACCORDING TO COURT PAPERS, WHEN WILLIAM GREGORY FORCED HIS WAY INSIDE THE HOME, HE, QUOTE, CAME UPSTAIRS SHOUTING THAT HE WAS AN ICE AGENT AND NEEDED TO SEE THEIR PAPERWORK. THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT SAYS GREGORY THEN PULLED OUT A POCKET KNIFE AND THREATENED TO STAB A JUVENILE QUOTE AS HE BEGAN TO STEAL HIS PLAYSTATION CONSOLE AND CONTROLLERS, GREGORY FORCIBLY RIPPED JUVENILE NUMBER ONE CELL PHONE OUT OF HIS HANDS, AND THE TWO BEGAN TO FIGHT. JUVENILE NUMBER ONE EVENTUALLY PUNCHED GREGORY IN THE FACE AND KNOCKED HIM UNCONSCIOUS, WHICH WAS HOW HE WAS WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED ON SCENE. THE FAMILY WHO LIVES HERE DOES NOT SPEAK ENGLISH, BUT THEY TOLD ME THE BOY WHO DEFENDED THEM IS 17. THEIR NEIGHBOR SAYS SHE IS THANKFUL FOR THAT AS A GREAT THING THAT THE YOUNG MAN, HIS ADRENALINE WENT THROUGH GOING INTO ACTION AND WENT TO DEFEND HIS FAMILY. YOU KNOW, THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT. WILLIAM GREGORY IS CHARGED WITH ETHNIC INTIMIDATION AND BURGLARY. HE REMAINS IN THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY JAIL COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY FROM THE CITY O
Man accused of posing as ICE agent and breaking in to Pittsburgh home
Teen defends family after man posing as ICE agent breaks into Pittsburgh home
Updated: 11:29 AM EST Jan 20, 2026
A 17-year-old boy in Pittsburgh is being credited with defending his family when an intruder broke into their home, falsely claiming to be an ICE agent and attempting to steal a PlayStation and cellphone. According to the criminal complaint, 35-year-old William Gregory entered the home through a kitchen window, claiming to be an ICE agent. Gregory, wielding a knife, then demanded the family show their paperwork.Crystal Calloway, a neighbor, said, “I believe that is a Hispanic home, you know, and our neighborhood is very diverse.”She expressed concern over someone fraudulently acting as an ICE agent to invade the community.Police reported that the boy fought back, stopping the intruder. Court papers revealed that Gregory threatened a juvenile with a pocketknife as he attempted to steal a PlayStation console and controllers, as well as the boy’s cellphone. Police said the boy managed to punch Gregory in the face, knocking him unconscious until officers arrived.The family, who does not speak English, confirmed the boy’s age as 17. Calloway expressed gratitude for the boy’s bravery, saying, “It’s a great thing that their young man, his adrenaline went through, going into action, and went to defend his family, you know. Thank goodness for that.”William Gregory is charged with ethnic intimidation and burglary and remains in the Allegheny County Jail. Police said he was wanted for a previous burglary and possession of a firearm when this crime was committed.
A 17-year-old boy in Pittsburgh is being credited with defending his family when an intruder broke into their home, falsely claiming to be an ICE agent and attempting to steal a PlayStation and cellphone.
According to the criminal complaint, 35-year-old William Gregory entered the home through a kitchen window, claiming to be an ICE agent. Gregory, wielding a knife, then demanded the family show their paperwork.
Crystal Calloway, a neighbor, said, “I believe that is a Hispanic home, you know, and our neighborhood is very diverse.”
She expressed concern over someone fraudulently acting as an ICE agent to invade the community.
Police reported that the boy fought back, stopping the intruder.
Court papers revealed that Gregory threatened a juvenile with a pocketknife as he attempted to steal a PlayStation console and controllers, as well as the boy’s cellphone.
Police said the boy managed to punch Gregory in the face, knocking him unconscious until officers arrived.
The family, who does not speak English, confirmed the boy’s age as 17.
Calloway expressed gratitude for the boy’s bravery, saying, “It’s a great thing that their young man, his adrenaline went through, going into action, and went to defend his family, you know. Thank goodness for that.”
William Gregory is charged with ethnic intimidation and burglary and remains in the Allegheny County Jail.
Police said he was wanted for a previous burglary and possession of a firearm when this crime was committed.