Suspect Arraigned In Shooting Spree

FBI Investigating It As A Hate Crime

PITTSBURGH, Updated 12:25 p.m. EDT April 29, 2000 -- A man reported to be an immigration lawyer has been arraigned in connection with several shootings that left five people dead Friday.

The FBI is investigating the incidents as hate crimes.

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Suspect Arraigned. Concered Beaver County residents see Richard Baumhammers head to court.

Police say Richard Baumhammers, 34, of Mt. Lebanon, was behind a violent spree that reportedly stretched through five locations. He has been charged with criminal homicide and reckless endangerment.

A fire in a home in Mt. Lebanon was reported at 1 p.m. Officials on the scene discovered a body at the site.

Shots were then reportedly fired near a synagogue in Mt. Lebanon. One person was wounded.

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Mass shootings. Hear what victim's kin say about shooting.

Shots were also reported at a Scott Township synagogue shortly afterward.

Police said that one person was then shot at the Scott Towne Center, reportedly near an Indian grocery store.

Three people were shot at approximately 2:20 p.m. at the Ya Fei Asian Restaurant in the Robinson Towne Center, west of Pittsburgh. Two were killed.

The other, Sandip Patel, 25, was in critical condition with gunshot wounds at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. Patel was shot in the neck and might be facing paralysis.

A man was confirmed shot to death at the C.S. Kim Karate School in Monaca. A witness confirmed hearing several gunshots at the karate school, which is near her business near the Beaver Valley Mall at about 3 p.m.

The witness called 911 and the suspect was pursued by Center Township police into Ambridge and Aliquippa. He was later arrested.

Victim List:

• Anita Gordon, 63, of Mt. Lebanon
  
• Theo Than, 27, Castle Shannon, delivery person at Ya Fei restaurant.
  
• Ji-Ye-Sun, 34, of Wilkinsburg, manager of Ya Fei.
  
• Anil Thakur, 31, of Bihar, India, who was at the Indian grocery.
  
• Garry Lee, 22, of Aliquippa, shot inside karate studio.
  

  Autopsies will be conducted Saturday. Baumhammers is now in the Beaver County jail and will soon be arraigned on charges in Allegheny County.

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