2 killed, 7 hurt in shooting at Penn Hills hookah bar

Two people were killed and seven others injured in a shooting at a hookah bar in Penn Hills early Sunday morning, according to Allegheny County Police.

The shooting in the 3500 block of Laketon Road, near Frankstown Road, was reported to 911 shortly before 3 a.m.

First responders found a man and a woman dead inside Ballers Hookah Lounge and Cigar Bar, police said. Seven more victims, four men and three women, were identified during the investigation, with some being taken from the scene to hospitals and others walking in to area hospitals.

Neither the names of the deceased nor those who were wounded have been released.

One of the seven hurt was said to be in critical condition, while the rest have injuries that are not life-threatening, county police said.

A county police spokesman could not provide the gender of the critically injured person, and said around 6 p.m. Sunday that that person’s condition had not changed.

Police believe multiple people opened fire after an altercation inside the bar.

Penn Hills police had responded to the bar for two recent shootings, but they were not fatal, according to county police.

Municipal police did not offer additional comment Sunday. Chief Ronald Como was not available.

The bar is located in what has long been known as the Laketon Professional Building 2. It and the adjacent former Laketon Professional Building 1 have been owned by a limited liability corporation, Bucci Ventura Mullen, since November 2022, according to Allegheny County real estate records.

Two child care facilities are located on either side of the building, apartments and townhouses are across Laketon Road, and single-family homes are located behind.

A dentist’s office appeared to be located at the lower back level of the building, with its entrance off of Lindberg Avenue.

A woman whose home is behind the bar said she didn’t know the bar was there and didn’t hear the incident happen. She declined to give her name.

“I’m not happy about another nuisance bar,” she said.

The woman, who has lived in her home for 25 years, said she was at church when she heard about the shooting.

“It’s concerning. That’s close,” she said. “There’s a lot of kids in this area and families. That affects all of us.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the county police tip line, 833-255-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.