A 16-year-old who police said was “horseplaying” with a gun has been charged with shooting a teenage girl in the face in North Braddock Monday night.
Police said an arrest warrant has been obtained for Damond Thomas of West Mifflin, who was charged Tuesday with one count of aggravated assault, one count of carrying a firearm without a license, two counts of reckless endangerment, one count of possession of a firearm by a minor and one count of simple assault.
The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. in an apartment at General Braddock Towers in the 600 block of Sixth Street, police said.
The 16-year-old girl was transported to UPMC Presbyterian in stable condition. Her condition has not been released.
Investigators said Damond shot the girl while he was “horseplaying” with a gun that he had brought to the apartment.
Detective Patrick Kinavey of the Allegheny County Police Department visited the hospital Monday around 9:40 p.m. and met with the victim, who was accompanied by her parents in the emergency room.
Detective Kinavey found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound in her right cheek. The girl told Detective Kinavey that Damond came to the apartment with two other males after she first spoke with Damond through Facetime. She and Damond went into the back bedroom together after their arrival, police reported.
The girl told police that once they were in the bedroom, Damond pulled out a small black semi-automatic pistol, but she asked him to put the gun away because she was afraid of guns. According to reports, Damond waved the gun in front of her face, teasing her with the weapon before the the gun went off, striking her in the face.
Damond and the girl fell off the bed after the gun fired, and Damond ran out of the apartment, the report states.
Detectives observed three males running out of the building on surveillance footage captured on the housing authority property. Police said they confirmed Damond was one of the males they saw on the footage after the victim confirmed his identity on Facebook.
The victim knew Damond through Facebook, police said.
Police described Damond as a black teen who was last seen wearing a black T-shirt, black/white Adidas pants, and Jordan shoes. They ask anyone with information about the incident or the suspect’s whereabouts to contact them via the Allegheny County Police Tipline at 1-833-ALL-TIPS (1-833-255-8477). Callers can remain anonymous.
Lacretia Wimbley: 412-263-1510, lwimbley@post-gazette.com or follow @Wimbleyjourno on Twitter.
First Published: April 23, 2019, 2:45 a.m.
Updated: April 23, 2019, 11:58 a.m.