Man arrested after rampage at North Side convenience store

A 29-year-old man was arraigned in court Monday after police say he attacked several people a day earlier at a 7-Eleven in the North Side.

Tyler Vick entered the Western Avenue convenience store at about 11:55 a.m. on Sunday and, after trying to pay for several items with just a $1 bill, became irate and started screaming, according to a criminal complaint in the case. He punched a cashier in the face, then struck the manager in the head, police said.

The convenience store’s manager told police Vick appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

Vick fled and ran into an elderly man, the complaint said. Vick “proceeded to square up” with the man, who took “a defensive stand, with his cane in his right hand to protect himself.”

Vick called the man a racist slur, and the man took his walking cane and struck him twice in the head, the complaint said. Vick fled the scene.

As the 7-Eleven manager called 911, Vick ran back into the store and tried to throw a large, roughly 45-lb hand sanitizer dispenser at the manager’s face, the complaint said. He missed.

Police said officers caught Vick on nearby Allegheny Avenue.

Vick was taken to Allegheny General Hospital to receive stitches for his wounds from the man’s cane, the complaint said. While waiting there, he punched a hole in a hospital wall and ripped “multiple medical devices” off the wall. He also kicked a police officer in the testicles.

Police estimated Vick caused up to $1,300 in damages.

Police charged Vick with two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of simple assault, and one count each of criminal mischief and disorderly conduct, court records show.

Vick’s address was listed in the criminal complaint as the Second Avenue Commons shelter in Downtown Pittsburgh.

He was arraigned Monday afternoon and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 22, court records show. His attorney wasn’t listed.