Evening star., 1950-07-12
Berserk Watchrnan
Kills 7, Wounds One
In Pittsburgh Hotel
BY the Associated Press


PITTSBURGH. July PA
berserk wetchman killed night
desk clerk and a baker today in
the fashionable Hotel Schenley in
fusillade of shots which wounded
one other hotel employe.
Police 1t. Nicholas Colianne
said the slayer was Dominick
OmogroSso, SO.
Alfonso w. Morano, the baker,
was killed by two shots from a 81
caliber revolver. He was shot in
the back while making breakfast
biscuits in the hotel basement.
Five other shots, fired wildly,
missed the baker.
The police officer said ONO
crosse then stalked upstairs to the
lobby, screaming Historically: Il
get even. I get even."
Night Clerk Killed.
In the lobby he shot John
Harper. IS, night desk clerk. Mr..
Harper died several hours later in
a hospital.
The injured man is Herbert H.
Kunde, 81, night manager.
1t. Colianne said OmogroSso-I
whose wife is employed at theI
hotel as a Observation-Disclosures
shooting the three men.
Il shoot them," the lieutenant
quoted Omogrosso. "They caused
me trouble. They always make
faces, make lot of smart remarks
about me. I get even. I get even."
Omogrosso is to be arraigned
today on a homicide charge.
The Schenley, ornate and i'm
posing. one of Pittsburgh's finest
residential hotels and the home
of many of the city's leading
citizens, is near the University of
Pittsburgh and Forbes Field. This
is the Oakland section, the center
of the city.
Pistol Reloaded.
Most of the guests were in bed
when the shooting began. A few
conversed in the gold and marble
lobby. The hotels night employees
we're busy with routine tasks. Mr..
Kunde sat at his desk in the CEN
ter of the lobby, reading.
1t. Colianne, reconstructing the
shooting, said Omogrosso killed
Mr.. Morano in the basement. He
reloaded his revolver, dashed up
stairs through the hotel ballroom
and into the lobby.
Mr.. Kunde was the second tar
get. 1t. Colianne said the watch
man, yelling wildly, rushed up to
the night manager, shot him three
times in the face, neck and
shoulder.
Seconds later, Mr.. Harper was
struck by two bullets in the face |
and neck.
Bullets Ricochet.
Then Omogrosso, still screaming
incoherently, pulled the trigger
twice more, the bullets ricochet-
ing off the marbled lobby walls.
At this point. 1t. Colianne. ac-
companied by Patrolman John
James, came in.
The lieutenant said Omogrosso
jammed his pistol into Patrolman
James side. Both officers grap-
pied with the watchman and SUBJ
dued him.
Raymond Snowden, a porter.
standing at his station 20 feet
from Mr.. Kunde's desk, recounted:
"Omogrosso came out of the
ballroom into the lobby, shouting
and waving a pistol.
Spun Around on Chair.
"Kunde was sitting with his back
to the door, reading at his desk.
The watchman grabbed him byl
the shoulder and spun him around
on the swivel chair. Then he fired
three times into his face.
"Omogrosso then ran behind the
desk to Harper, who was talking
on the telephone. He fired at him
at least twice. Harper dropped
the receiver and fell behind the
desk. BY that time was running
for the door,"
Mr.. Kunde, though bleeding
profusely, struggled to his feet
and slipped out of the lobby. He
made his way to an elevator and
was found by police in a seventh
floor room being treated by a
doctor.