CM Wilson's Statement on Shooting at Airbnb in East Deutschtown

Published on January 08, 2026

Councilman Bobby Wilson’s Statement on Shooting at Airbnb in East Deutschtown

Pittsburgh, PA (January 8, 2026)—The shooting that occurred in the East Deutschtown neighborhood last week is deeply troubling, and I want to be clear that the fear and frustration coming from the community is understood and taken seriously. They’ve suffered an unbearable amount of trauma, and I don’t take this situation lightly.

Immediately following the tragic 2022 shooting, I introduced legislation to regulate short-term rentals citywide. Based on guidance from the City Solicitor and Law Department, City Council advanced legislation establishing baseline safety standards, clarifying oversight, and ensuring that public safety knows who is operating these properties and how to reach them. That ordinance passed Council but is currently held up in the courts. At present, the Department of Permits, Licenses, and Inspections is limited to implementing a voluntary registration process for all rental units, including short-term rentals.

At the most recent Community Alliance of Spring Garden-East Deutschtown (CASGED) meeting, I committed to partnering with Councilwoman Deb Gross to advance more aggressive legislation addressing the proliferation and misuse of short-term rentals.

In response to the current incident, I’ve spoken with the City’s violence prevention outreach team, given that underage individuals were involved, as well as a representative from Airbnb, who confirmed that the listing has been indefinitely suspended and the associated booking account removed.

I have invested in the City’s violence prevention outreach team through the Stop the Violence Trust Fund. A significant part of that team’s work is preventative and focuses on intervening to stop large, unsupervised gatherings, particularly those involving underage youth, before they escalate into dangerous situations. That prevention-focused work is a critical part of our broader public safety strategy.

I am receiving ongoing updates from the Pittsburgh Police and remain in regular communication with their team as details continue to develop. I have also engaged the Mayor’s Office and will continue working collaboratively with them on both immediate and long-term solutions that prioritize neighborhood safety.

As Chair of the Pittsburgh Land Bank, I was able to help launch the first-ever pilot program in East Deutschtown aimed at stabilizing homeownership and preventing properties from being sold to absentee investors who may convert them into short-term rentals. Through the Land Bank, we are able to prioritize vetted, owner-occupant buyers, which is an important tool in preserving neighborhood stability and reducing speculative use of housing.

I encourage residents to also engage their state and federal representatives as addressing this issue effectively will require coordination across all levels of government. I understand the urgency coming from the community, and while legal and enforcement constraints can be frustrating, this issue is not being ignored. I remain committed to pursuing stronger tools, accountability, and continued engagement with residents