Police said the gunfire occurred inside the vehicle before it struck a home on West Barivista Drive.
PENN HILLS, Pa. — A man and woman were found fatally shot inside a vehicle that crashed into a home Tuesday afternoon in Penn Hills, prompting an investigation that Allegheny County police described as involving a domestic situation.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the two people Wednesday as Crystal Russ, 44, of Penn Hills, and William Eugene Broadus, 44, of Verona. Authorities had not publicly identified either person immediately after the shooting.
County police said Allegheny County 911 received a report at about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday that a vehicle had struck a building in the 6700 block of West Barivista Drive. The street is near the Verona border and the Rosedale neighborhood.
First responders arrived and found Russ and Broadus suffering from gunshot wounds inside the vehicle. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said no one else was injured, including anyone who may have been inside or near the home when the vehicle struck it.
Preliminary information indicated that the shooting took place inside the vehicle as part of a domestic situation, according to county police. Investigators did not publicly explain what led to the gunfire, identify who fired the shots or announce whether they were seeking another person.
Police also did not say whether Russ or Broadus had any connection to the home that was struck. The vehicle remained at the scene for several hours as investigators examined the area and emergency crews restricted access to the residential street.
Residents said they heard several gunshots before seeing police officers, paramedics and other emergency vehicles fill the neighborhood. Nettie Schropp, who was outside nearby, said the violence left her shaken and heartbroken.
Tom Jablonski, another resident, said he returned from work to find the street lined with emergency vehicles. He said neighbors initially had little information about what had happened and learned later that two people had been shot.
Penn Hills police Chief Jason Bonace referred questions about the case to Allegheny County police, which is leading the investigation. Authorities had not released further findings about the sequence of events as of Wednesday morning.
Author note: Last updated July 29, 2026.