An Uber driver who said he was being choked from behind by one of his passengers as they tussled outside the vehicle in South Oakland early Tuesday drew his handgun, reached behind his head and shot his assailant, grazing him, police said.

That shot allowed Andrew Farkosh to get away from Phillip Pesano and his three friends, who had assaulted the driver and tried to steal his car keys, according to a criminal complaint.

Mr. Farkosh ran into a Sunoco station at Craft and Forbes avenues. When Pittsburgh police arrived on the scene around 1:49 a.m., they found Mr. Pesano talking to a University of Pittsburgh police officer outside the gas station.

"That Uber driver shot me," Mr. Pesano, his head bloodied, told police.

All four Uber passengers are charged with robbery. Mr. Pesano, 21, of Carnegie is also charged with strangulation. The other three — Joseph Antonucci, 22, of Oakdale; Reed Bruggeman, 22, of Collier; and Jacob Collins, 22, of Bridgeville — are also charged with criminal conspiracy.  Mr. Antonucci is additionally charged with simple assault and terroristic threats.

They were all taken to the Allegheny County Jail to await arraignment on robbery charges.

Police said Mr. Farkosh had a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon.

The incident began when Mr. Farkosh picked up the four men on the South Side. While inside the vehicle, the men were "disorderly" and talking about how they had vandalized a street sign, the complaint said.

By the time they had crossed the Birmingham Bridge toward Oakland, Mr. Farkosh told them they needed to calm down or get out.

"There are four of us, I have a knife, I'll stab you, what are you going to do?" responded Mr. Antonucci, according to the complaint.

Someone in the back seat grabbed Mr. Farkosh's shirt and yanked him backward. Mr. Farkosh pulled over on Forbes near Craft and told the men to get out.

They did, and Mr. Farkosh stepped out, too.

Mr. Antonucci pinned Mr. Farkosh against his vehicle while Mr. Pesano, who was in the front seat, tried to take the keys out of the ignition, the complaint said. Mr. Farkosh managed to get to the key fob first, though, as all four surrounded him, the complaint said.

Mr. Farkosh called 911, and the men ran away. He followed them. He found Mr. Antonucci outside UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, and Mr. Antonucci got into a fighting stance, the complaint said.

Mr. Farkosh ran away, heading back to his car, when he heard Mr. Pesano say, "Oh, it's this guy again." Mr. Pesano ran and Mr. Farkosh followed. They began to wrestle, and Mr. Pesano put the Uber driver in a choke hold, squeezing so tightly that he couldn't breathe for five to 10 seconds, the complaint said.

Fearing for his life, Mr. Farkosh pulled out his gun, according to the complaint.

Police said they believe that Mr. Farkosh acted in self-defense. They found the remaining riders in a nearby McDonald's, including Mr. Bruggeman, who had called for the Uber, the complaint said.

First Published: December 24, 2019, 2:06 p.m.
Updated: December 24, 2019, 7:22 p.m.