Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh homicide detectives on Monday were trying to learn more about why a gunman opened fire early Sunday at a private club in Larimer that has been the site of past trouble.
Just after 3 a.m., officers found Donte Hawkins, 20, of Verona, dead of a gunshot wound to his back outside the Trappers Club on Hamilton Avenue. Inside the club, police found Asa Thompkins, 22, with a gunshot to the abdomen. He remained in critical condition Monday at UPMC Presbyterian, police said.
Detectives were working to uncover a motive for the violence, Cmdr. Thomas Stangrecki said, noting that Mr. Thompkins has been shot at least three other times in the past four years. Court records show Mr. Hawkins had a pending criminal case for charges that included a firearms offense and receiving stolen property.
At the time of the shooting, off-duty police officers were moonlighting as security guards and private security was on hand, the commander said. The club, formerly called the Travelers Club, has been the scene of a number of shootings. Targeted as a nuisance bar, the Travelers Club closed in 2006.
As of last week, however, the Trappers Club was not on a nuisance bar list kept by the city and the district attorney's office. Mike Manko, a spokesman for the district attorney, said the office would "see if there has been a pattern of police calls recently before deciding what can be done" in light of the most recent violence.
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