0 Police seek public's help in identifying 3 people in South Side assault

PITTSBURGH - Police are asking the public for help in identifying three people caught on surveillance camera assaulting two women on Pittsburgh’s South Side last month.

A press release from Pittsburgh police on Friday said that at 2:38 a.m. at the intersection of 21st and East Carson streets on May 26, two women stopped Zone 6 officers on patrol, claiming they had been assaulted outside 97 21st Street.

Police said both victims, who are both 22 years old, had visible cuts, and one had a bloody lip.

Both told police they were walking to a friend’s house around 2:30 a.m. when two men and a woman approached them.

Victim Two said one of the men threw a can of “something” at Victim One’s head and then proceeded to punch Victim One in the head and push her down.

Meanwhile, Victim Two said, the other man and the woman assaulted her, with the man pointing a silver gun in her face.

At one point, Victim Two said, after both men began punching her in the face, she dropped her purse and her iPhone fell out, prompting the woman to pick it up and throw it on the ground.

Surveillance cameras from Buddy’s Brews on Carson captured the assailants’ images just after the assault. The owner of Buddy’s Brews on Carson, Jacob Nickman, said one of the victim’s mothers called him the day after the attack.

"The mother of one of the daughters called the store the next day after it happened," said Nickman. “I've lived here for six years. I feel like the last few have gotten progressively worse as far as violent crime and vandalism."

A resident of South Side, Matthew Flanagan, said he never walks around the area at night alone.

"I guess I'll just make sure my doors are locked when I get back, and I'm always with a couple of people when I'm walking into bars," said Flanagan.

Police describe the first man as wearing a red hat and a white shirt, the second as wearing a white hat with a red shirt, and the woman as wearing black leggings. All three are in their 20s.

Anyone with information is asked to call Zone 3 plainclothes detectives at 412-488-8326.

Callers may remain anonymous.