Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 7:08AM |  15°
MENU
Advertisement
The General Braddock Towers, Thursday, April 23, 2019, in North Braddock.  A 16-year-old who police said was
3
MORE

Police: 16-year-old 'horseplaying' with gun shot girl in face in North Braddock

Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette

Police: 16-year-old 'horseplaying' with gun shot girl in face in North Braddock

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.

Advertisement

The 16-year-old girl was transported to UPMC Presbyterian in stable condition. Her condition has not been released.

Damond Thomas
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Police arrest teen accused of shooting girl in the face in North Braddock

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.

Advertisement

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.

RELATED
Comments Disabled For This Story
Partners
Advertisement
The Federal Bureau of Investigation seal outside the headquarters in Washington, D.C.
1
opinion
Vanni Cappelli: The FBI purge could lead to another 9/11
Sidequest on 44th in Lawrenceville on Dec. 27, 2024.
2
a&e
Canceled show finds ex-Misfits singer Michale Graves lashing out about being purged from Pittsburgh
A small public audience listened as Pittsburgh Public Schools released final recommendations for its facilities utilization plan during the education committee meeting at the PPS Administration Building in Oakland on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
3
news
Pittsburgh Public Schools considering reinstating virtual testimony following months of pushback
Head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith watch a receivers and defensive backs drill at Steelers Minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex Thursday, June 13, 2024.
4
sports
Gerry Dulac: Next season’s major decisions loom this week for Mike Tomlin, Steelers staff
A protester waves a sign opposing Trump administration policies during a protest at the intersection of Murray and Forbes Avenues in Squirrel Hill Monday, Feb. 17, 2025.
5
news
Presidents Day protest in Pittsburgh takes aim at Trump policies
The General Braddock Towers, Thursday, April 23, 2019, in North Braddock. A 16-year-old who police said was "horseplaying" with a gun has been charged with shooting a teenage girl in the face in the towers at North Braddock Monday night.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Then main entrance to the General Braddock Towers, Thursday, April 23, 2019, in North Braddock. A 16-year-old who police said was "horseplaying" with a gun has been charged with shooting a teenage girl in the face in the towers in North Braddock Monday night.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Police cordon off the scene of a shooting in which a teenage girl was wounded Monday night in North Braddock.  (KDKA-TV)
Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST news
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story