Pittsburgh, Pa. — A shooting early Friday morning in Pittsburgh’s Strip District has left two people hospitalized and the city’s LGBTQ+ community notably shaken.
Police responded to reports of a man brandishing a weapon and threatening patrons at Club Pittsburgh, an LGBTQ+ bathhouse located in the 1100 block of Penn Avenue, around 2:15 a.m. Upon arrival, officers discovered a man on the fourth-floor suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest and torso. The victim was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, where police report he remains intubated and is expected to require additional surgeries to survive. As reported by TribLive, the man has injuries to his colon and stomach and lost his spleen and part of his liver. Because of extreme swelling and to avoid amputation, the man’s damaged arm had to be completely opened so it could drain.
Authorities detained the suspect, identified as William Samuels, 55. According to police, Samuels appeared to be experiencing medical distress during his arrest and was also taken to the hospital for evaluation. On Friday night, Pittsburgh Public Safety announced that Samuels is facing charges including attempted homicide, terroristic threats, and simple assault.
Details Of The Investigation
According to the criminal complaint, Samuels, who is allegedly homeless, told police he rented a room at the club for himself and his girlfriend to escape the cold weather. Believing he heard his girlfriend calling for help from another room, Samuels grabbed a gun he had reportedly smuggled into the club under a heavy coat. Police found he has a valid conceal carry permit.
Samuels believed that others were giving his girlfriend drugs, including muscle relaxers, and because of that she may not be able to fight back. Samuels said he thought he heard her calling for help in the next room, claiming everyone in the business and in the building were “in on it.”
Police say Samuels attempted to break into a room on the fourth floor, shot a man three times in the torso and arm, and proceeded to knock on various other doors in the club. Six people in the club told officers Samuels had pointed his gun at them, the complaint states.
Community In Shock
Club Pittsburgh has been open in the city’s Strip District since 2001, serving as a private LGBTQ+ bathhouse. Its multi-level space includes an underwear and sex shop, a gym, a sauna, a darkroom and a rooftop deck. The incident though has sent ripples of fear and resolve throughout Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community. “Club Pittsburgh has been around for a really long time. It’s a very well-known place in the city for our community. I’m horrified that people who were there for joy ended up in terror,” said Lyndsey Sickler, executive director of Proud Haven, a nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ youth in crisis.
Club Pittsburgh management released a statement on Facebook expressing their heartbreak and commitment to revisiting safety measures. “Our foremost priority has always been to provide a safe and welcoming environment for our community, and it is heartbreaking that an act of gun violence has disrupted this space. We are committed to thoroughly reevaluating our safety, security, and admission protocols to ensure the well-being of everyone who enters our doors,” the post read.
Heightened Vigilance
While Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ businesses have long been vigilant about safety, the shooting has prompted immediate action. Blue Moon Bar, another popular LGBTQ+ establishment, announced a new no-large-bag policy, while P-Town Bar stated it will be increasing security measures on Friday nights.
“We take this personally,” said Alistair McQueen, a bartender at Blue Moon. “The largest mass shooting in this country was the Pulse nightclub shooting. That’s why everyone here, all our staff at Blue Moon Bar, has had active shooter training.”
Sickler echoed McQueen’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of safety measures in LGBTQ+ spaces. “It was surprising to me because Club Pittsburgh is pretty regulated and systematic. I know people get checked, and the fact that this happened is just awful.”
Both McQueen and Sickler are urging LGBTQ+ businesses across the city to implement active shooter training and defense classes, emphasizing that preparedness is key to ensuring the safety of patrons and staff alike.
Moving Forward
As the community processes the tragedy, solidarity and resilience remain at the forefront. “We love Club Pittsburgh, and we stand in solidarity with them,” McQueen said. “This is a time for all of us to come together, support each other, and make our spaces as safe as possible.”
For Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community, the shooting is a grim reminder of the challenges faced by queer spaces in maintaining safety, but it is also a call to action. “We will not let fear take away the joy and community we’ve built,” Sickler said.
