Justin Vellucci
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jvthetrib.bsky.social
Justin Vellucci
@jvthetrib.bsky.social
News reporter at @TRIBLive. Covering crime and communities in
@Pittsburgh. Verified news, context and behind-the-scenes reporting. #FourthEstate
Pinned
I’m a @triblive.bsky.social reporter covering public safety in Western PA.

It’s not just crime scenes or courtrooms — it’s about the people and neighborhoods at the heart of every story.

Follow for updates from #Pittsburgh’s streets.

Tips: [email protected]
Businesses got cops. The city got stiffed.

A @triblive.bsky.social investigation found #Pittsburgh racked up $3M in unpaid moonlighting bills.

Deputy mayor: “We send them an invoice and hopefully they pay.”

Is this how city finance works?

📎 LINK IN COMMENTS
December 8, 2025 at 5:05 PM
“You’re either blatantly incompetent or there’s some level of corruption there. Which is it? You pick.” - #Pittsburgh police union head

A @triblive.bsky.social investigation reveals $3M in unpaid bills for police moonlighting work — and a city government that failed to act.

📎 LINK IN COMMENTS
December 8, 2025 at 11:48 AM
“You’re either blatantly incompetent or there’s some level of corruption there. Which is it? You pick.”

A @triblive.bsky.social investigation reveals $3M in unpaid bills for #Pittsburgh police moonlighting work — and a city government that failed to act.

📎 LINK IN COMMENTS
December 7, 2025 at 11:18 PM
A @triblive.bsky.social investigation found $3M in unpaid bills for off-duty #Pittsburgh police work — and a city hall that failed to collect.

“This is simple bookkeeping — or it should be. But nobody knows what’s going on.”

🧾 Chaos. 📉 No oversight.

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December 7, 2025 at 7:53 PM
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: #Pittsburgh businesses — from strip clubs to soup kitchens — got years of police protection without paying the bills. 💸

A @triblive.bsky.social investigation reveals $3M in unpaid moonlighting, sloppy records & little oversight under
Mayor #EdGainey

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December 7, 2025 at 4:34 PM
A 36-year-old man shot last week in #Pittsburgh's #EastLiberty neighborhood has died, officials say.

Bryon Lewis was shot in the chest early Friday and died Monday night at @news.upmc.com Presbyterian.

Police have made no arrests. @triblive.bsky.social

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December 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
🚨 First major snow of the season hits #Pittsburgh
area Tuesday AM — right during rush hour. Up to 4" expected in some areas. ❄️

🌨️ Heaviest: 5–9 a.m.
🧊 Temps: Around 29–30°
🚗 Slick roads likely
🚫 PennDOT urges limiting travel @triblive.bsky.social

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December 2, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Groundbreaking set for Monday on $740M #Esplanade project, the massive entertainment district planned for #Pittsburgh's North Side.

Riverfront project to include a Ferris wheel, hotel, condos and more — but not without controversy. @triblive.bsky.social

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November 28, 2025 at 4:52 PM
A 9-month-old girl died from a toxic mix of antidepressants and heart medication in April, the @alleghenycounty.bsky.social medical examiner said Friday.

Her death was ruled a homicide. Police are investigating.
@triblive.bsky.social

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#Pittsburgh #AlleghenyCounty
November 28, 2025 at 2:59 PM
A #Pittsburgh cop is on paid leave after being charged w/ assault in a domestic dispute outside his #Dormont home.

JUST IN: His attorney says he “unequivocally denies” the accusations and claims the women involved were “highly intoxicated.” @triblive.bsky.social

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November 26, 2025 at 7:52 PM
A #Pittsburgh police officer is facing an assault charge after a late-night domestic dispute turned physical.

His wife was injured.

He's now on leave and awaiting a Dec. 10 hearing.
@triblive.bsky.social

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November 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM
A former Leet Township fire chief and his wife are facing felony charges after @alleghenycounty.bsky.social police say she exposed herself to a 14-year-old jnr firefighter and made 'concerning' sexual remarks

The couple was once seen as mentors to the boy. @triblive.bsky.social

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November 25, 2025 at 7:06 PM
✈️ Thanksgiving travel is in full swing in #Pittsburgh
— and @pitairport.bsky.social is ready.

With 300,000 travelers expected this week and a brand-new $1.7B terminal, officials say: “We are prepared.”

More security lanes. Faster bags. Starry ceilings. @triblive.bsky.social

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November 24, 2025 at 11:32 PM
🚨 #PA passed its budget 135 days late, dead last in the U.S.

A high-stakes push by #Pittsburgh-area power players
#SenKimWard & #SenJayCosta helped break the stalemate.

🍕 #yuengling beer, pizza, @eatnpark.bsky.social cookies & political grit didn't hurt. @triblive.bsky.social

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November 24, 2025 at 6:31 PM
🚨 A #BeaverCountyPA woman escaped a kidnapping by jumping from a car at a red light in @cityofpittsburgh.bsky.social, police in #Aliquippa say.

The suspects allegedly threatened to have her killed. Both are now in jail. @triblive.bsky.social

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November 19, 2025 at 10:16 PM
🚨 A man stabbed 37 times inside @alleghenycounty.bsky.social Jail has settled a civil-rights lawsuit against the county and two guards he says let his attackers into his cell.

The assault lasted 39 minutes. His attorney says: “The jail has a real problem.” @triblive.bsky.social

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November 19, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Tragic update: Authorities have identified the victim of Saturday’s house fire in #Pittsburgh's Brighton Heights as Mark A. Jeselnick, 64.

Firefighters found him dead in a second-floor bedroom. The fire is under investigation but appears accidental. @triblive.bsky.social

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November 13, 2025 at 10:08 PM
A hat left at a #McKeesport shooting scene helped crack a homicide case.

DNA on the hat matched Daemond Artemus, 18, now charged in the May 2024 killing of Brandon Dean.

@alleghenycounty.bsky.social Police say the odds of a match? 1 in 65.7 sextillion. @triblive.bsky.social

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November 13, 2025 at 8:02 PM
🚨 #Pittsburgh mayor-elect @coreyoconnorpa.bsky.social taps Jason Lando — a hometown cop turned
@frederickmd.bsky.social chief — to lead the struggling
Pittsburgh police bureau.

Lando says Downtown safety and community trust are top priorities. @triblive.bsky.social LIVE

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November 13, 2025 at 7:38 PM
🚨 On Election Night, #Perryopolis Mayor Charles “Bud” Petrosky — re-elected hours earlier — allegedly drove drunk, rear-ended a woman driving her kids, then fled the scene,
@pastatepolice.bsky.social say.

The 82-year-old blew a 0.139% on a breathalyzer. @triblive.bsky.social

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November 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Thank you to Editor+Publisher for the #Eppy award for my
@triblive.bsky.social article on police use of force.

It took months of reporting -- and many, many
Right To Know requests.

Also, very importantly, an immense thank you to families + survivors who shared their stories.

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November 12, 2025 at 2:59 PM
REVIEW: @dropkickmurphys.com 'For The People' punches like a protest record — fists in the air, boots on the ground, targets … kind of blurry. 🎸🍀

Rage, riffs & broadside blasts at "the bosses & bankers" — just don’t ask for names. Still, it slaps. @spectrumculture.bsky.social

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November 12, 2025 at 1:14 PM
🏈 It’s official: 'College GameDay' is back in the 'Burgh!

@espn.com sets up at @acrisurestadium.bsky.social for the
#Pitt vs. Notre Dame showdown.

A homecoming twist: @patmcafeeshow.bsky.social returns to
#Pittsburgh w/ a $500K kicking contest. @triblive.bsky.social

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#H2P
November 11, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Snow flurried, hands saluted and hearts stayed warm Tuesday in #LowerBurrell.

Neighbors lined Leechburg Road for the #VeteransDay parade. A ceremony followed at the #VFW post.

“If they can fight for us, we can show up for them,” one woman said. @triblive.bsky.social

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November 11, 2025 at 10:11 PM
🚗💥A fender-bender Tuesday in a #Pittsburgh
parking garage left a car flirting with a 4th-floor precipice.

A vehicle rear-ended a parked car, which crashed through a concrete barrier. It later was towed. Nobody was injured.
@Triblive

LINK -- and photo -- IN COMMENTS
November 11, 2025 at 8:59 PM