Shooting in Arnold sends 1 to hospital; suspect remains at large
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All schools in the New Kensington-Arnold School District were on lockdown Monday afternoon as police from multiple agencies canvassed the Arnold-New Kensington area for a suspected shooter.
One gunshot victim showed up to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Melanie Jones, spokeswoman for the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office.
The shooting took place in the 1500 block of Woodmont Avenue in Arnold, and no one was in custody, Jones said. No further details were provided.
Police vehicles and unmarked cars were seen on Leishman Avenue near North Street in Arnold shortly after noon as authorities checked houses in the area.
A portion of Woodbine Alley between North and Catalpa streets was roped off with police tape, and as many as two dozen evidence markers dotted the alley close to North Street.
Some officers from neighboring departments were pulled from the scene of a fire in Harrison around 12:30 p.m. and sent to the area on the report of an active shooter, according to Harrison police Chief Brian Turack.
The large presence of emergency responders startled area residents, who already had endured a hectic weekend that included a spate of fires. Three of the four fires that erupted Saturday and Sunday took place on Leishman Avenue, two in New Kensington and one in Arnold, and one fire occurred on Fourth Avenue in Arnold.
The fires have been deemed suspicious, authorities said, and the state fire marshal and local police are investigating.
Jones said Monday the fires and the shooting are unrelated.
The lockdown at New Kensington-Arnold School District was lifted about 2 p.m., and students were sent home.
“Out of an abundance of caution,” neighboring Highlands School District enacted a voluntary shelter-in-place during school hours but said there was no reported threat or danger to students. Students were dismissed at their regular times.