Washington teen wanted in shooting arrested in Pittsburgh
A Washington teenager charged in a shooting last month was arrested in Pittsburgh Thursday.
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh confirmed that Tristan Lassic was taken into custody following a standoff with a SWAT team serving an arrest warrant around 5:30 p.m. Lassic was in a home in the 300 block of Oakville Drive in the Banksville neighborhood of Pittsburgh.
Lassic, 16, was wanted on felony charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault and escape. He is being charged as an adult.
Court records accuse Lassic of shooting Rashard Carter multiple times early in the morning on July 29.
Police said Lassic had fled his home at 47 Shannon Ave., Washington, after cutting off an ankle monitor from Washington County juvenile probation. That unrelated case involved a gun charge. Lassic was initially charged as a juvenile, but the case was later moved to common pleas court.
In March, a judge released Lassic on the ankle monitor over prosecutors’ objections.
“We had a lengthy hearing that we believed he was a danger to the public,” Walsh said.
Investigators found Lassic’s ankle monitor in his bedroom next to a large knife. Walsh suggested it is not difficult to remove the devices.
“They do get ankle monitors off frequently, yes,” Walsh said.
At about 1:30 a.m. July 29 Washington police were called to Lassic’s home for reports of a shooting, but found Carter near the intersection of East Hallam Avenue and Ridge Avenue.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Lassic, Carter had been shot in the back three times and his shirt was soaked in blood. He was flown to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital for treatment.
The shooting allegedly occurred at Lassic’s Shannon Avenue home. Investigators found a shell casing in the backyard while searching the property, according to court records.
Lassic was arraigned Thursday night before District Judge Eric Porter and denied bail. Walsh said Lassic would be transported to Lawrence County jail due to his age.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. Aug. 20.