Police said a large party was being held at Airbnb when shots were fired.
Public safety in Pittsburgh
Two minors were killed early Sunday after being shot at a large Airbnb rental party in Pittsburgh, according to city police. At least eight others have been treated for gunshot wounds and other injuries.
Police said they were called around 12:30 a.m. to a home party attended by about 200 people, some of them minors.
“About 50 rounds of ammunition were fired inside, prompting some partygoers to jump out of windows, injuring them with broken bones and tears. Several more shots were fired outside the home,” police said in a statement. Many young people fled the area on foot and by vehicle.
Based on preliminary evidence, officers believe there were many shooters, said Police Chief Scott Schubert at an afternoon press conference.
Schubert said that after the quarrel broke out, they were shot with weapons inside and outside the residence, potentially back and forth.
The department is processing evidence at eight separate crime sites, the statement said. No arrests have been reported so far and no immediate suspects have been identified. The names of the two dead boys were not released immediately. One was 14, Schubert said. An initial police report said nine people were injured in the shooting, but Schubert updated the figure.
Airbnb said it had contacted the city’s police department and city hall to help with the investigation. The guest who booked the ad was banned for life from accessing the platform and the company is “considering all legal possibilities” to hold the person accountable.
“Airbnb strictly bans parties, and we condemn the behavior allegedly caused by this criminal gun violence,” Airbnb spokesman Ben Bright said in an email statement. He added that it was an unauthorized party organized without the knowledge or consent of the host.
Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms are struggling with so-called party houses, where consumers rent ads only to host a party. Airbnb imposed a ban on party houses and introduced several security features in 2019, after five people were killed in a shooting at one of its reservations.
However, due to the way these companies work, they cannot always stop holding parties. Sometimes guests can check in on remote properties while the owner is away and can invite as many people as they want.
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