Pittsburgh School Shooting Suspect Sought Revenge, Cops Say

Teen accused of attempted homicide for Wednesday's shooting.

ByABC News
November 14, 2013, 11:01 AM

Nov. 14, 2013— -- The teenager accused of shooting three classmates outside a Pittsburgh high school is believed to have been seeking revenge for a drug deal gone wrong last month, police said today.

Anjohnito Willet, Jr., a 16-year-old student at Brashear High School, was arrested and charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment. He is accused of shooting three other male students after school let out Wednesday afternoon, according to police.

Pittsburgh police confirmed to ABC News today that Willet was involved in an altercation weeks ago at the high school in which other students assaulted and robbed him, and that the incident was drug-related.

Police Lt. Kevin Krauss told ABC News affiliate WTAE that Willet never pursued charges, saying instead that he would "take matters into his own account."

According to the criminal complaint filed against Willet, a witness saw Willet holding a gun and firing it near the school and hearing three gunshots, WTAE reported.

"We do believe that he intended to go to that area, to the intersection of Crane and Lowenhill (avenues), specifically to target these individuals," said Kraus.

All three students were treated as area hospitals for injuries that were not considered life threatening.

After the shooting, dozens of law enforcement officers swarmed the school and surrounding neighborhood, including SWAT officers in body armor and an armored SWAT vehicle. Aerial footage of the scene showed SWAT team members surrounding a house, and later showed individuals being handcuffed and placed in the armored vehicle.

According to police, the home was occupied by Willet, his father, his father's girlfriend, and other teenage boys at the time. All were taken into custody for questioning. Willet came out of the house with his 1-year-old child, according to police.