User:MrsLindsayDowns/sandbox/1950 Schenley Hotel Tragedy

On July 12, 1950, a hotel watchman at the Schenley Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania opened fire, killing two coworkers and wounding a third. The reason he gave was that they taunted him by making faces at him. Shortly after midnight, Dominico Omogrosso, 58, while on his night shift, entered the basement, shooting the baker, Alphonse Marano, 61, in the back of the head. He then went upstairs to the lobby, shooting H.H. Kunde, 51, the assistant manager, wounding. He then shot John S. Harper, 55 .

Dominico Omogrosso

Dominico Omogrosso was born on October 11, 1891 in Sulmona, Italy. In 1908, he married Gemma. Two years later, he traveled to Boston, Massachusetts to find work, save money, and send back for Gemma. They lived in Boston for a few years, had a child, but returned to Italy to take care of Omogrosso's mother. There, they had two more children. They lost all three children during the Influenza epidemic of 1918. Omogrosso returned to Boston in 1919 where he and Gemma lived for many years. At some point,Dominico was called back to fight in the Italian Army. When he returned, Gemma noted a change in his behavior. They saved money and planned to move to California, where Dominico's father, Gaetano, lived, but lost their $10,000 in savings in the stock market crash of 1929. They planned to travel to California, but never made it past Pittsburgh due to financial reasons. They were living in Pittsburgh by 1930 where they gave birth to their son, Primo on September 22, 1930.

Dominico's job history was unstable. In 1930, he and Gemma both were listed as candy makers. Given their street address was Forbes Avenue, it was likely that they worked at the candy factory on the same street: Reymer Brothers Candy Factory. He was listed as an unemployed stone mason in the 1940 census. For a three year time period in the 1940s, he was supported by Gemma. He was sick and unemployed for a long time, however he avoided going to the doctor, as he was afraid of needles. In the late 1940s, she got him a job as a night watchman at the Schenley Hotel, where she worked as a dishwasher starting in 1945, five years before the shootings.

Hotel Schenley

Hotel Schenley was a popular establishment starting in 1898 and dissolving in 1956 when it was purchased by the University of Pittsburgh., becoming the William Pitt Student Union. Many famous and wealthy people stayed there including Pittsburgh's elite businessmen such as Heinz, Carnegie, and Frick. Celebrities such as Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn were also known to have stayed at the Hotel Schenley Other elite guests include presidents Woodrow Wilson, William Howard Taft, and Theodore Roosevelt. In addition to serving as a hotel, there were also apartments.

Victims

Alphonso Marano

Omogrosso's first victim was Alphonso Marano, 61. Marano was a baker and former friend of Omogrosso's. Three or four weeks before the shootings, there was an incident in the bakery in which Marano badly cut his hand. After that incident, he and Omogrosso no longer spoke. Additionally, Gemma recalled that Omogrosso's behavior changed, citing that "he had been acting strangely, claiming that other employes [sic] were making fun of him" Just after midnight, Omogrosso entered the basement where the bakery was located and shot Marano in the back of the head as he cracked an egg for the breakfast biscuits he was making. As others in the baker ran away screaming, Omogrosso faced Marano toward him and shot him in the eyes. He then proceeded to shoot four more bullets into Marano's body. Marano was pronounced dead on arrival at Montifiore Hospital, which was blocks away from the hotel. He had a wife and three sons.

Herbert H. Kunde

Herbert H. Kunde, 51, was Omogrosso's second victim. Kunde was the night manager. Omogrosso reloaded his gun before entering the lobby, where Kunde sat at the desk in the swivel chair. Omogrosso spun the chair around, shooting Kunde twice. During the rampage, Kunde crawled to the elevator riding up seven floors to find the physician who lived in one of the apartments. The physician treated Kunde's wounds and called the police. Kunde survived the incident.

John S. Harper

John S. Harper, 55, was Omogrosso's third victim. Harper was a night clerk who was on the phone with his mechanic while the first two shootings occurred. He was still on the phone seven feet away when Kunde was shot in either the neck and face or the chest and the shoulder. John S. Harper was alive when he arrived at Montifiore Hospital, but died hours later. Harper had a wife and son.

Witness Accounts

Legal Proceedings

First responders

Patrolman John James was among the first on the scene at 12:31 a.m. Omogrosso still had the gun in his hand when Patrolman James questioned him, asking who he shot. Omogrosso replied, "'I got every one of them.'" Patrolman James R. Carr was also called to the scene and testified, corroborating James' account of what happened.

James Kelly, a homicide detective, found 11 shells on the scene.

Trial

The coroner's inquest was held on August 3, 1950. No witnesses spoke on behalf of Omogrosso but many testified against him.

Omogrosso was sentenced on August 24, 1950.

External links.

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