Fight led to Aliquippa star's shooting

A fistfight led to the weekend shooting of Aliquippa High School basketball star Herb Pope Jr., police said Monday.

"It looks like there was a party, and I believe the dispute started over someone wanting a ride," Aliquippa Police Chief Ralph Pallante said at a news conference. "Words were exchanged, punches were thrown, and this individual pulled out a gun and began firing at Mr. Pope.

"That's how silly this was, over a ride."

An arrest warrant was issued for the suspected shooter, Marcus Cleaster Longmire, 19, of the Bedford Dwellings section of the Hill District. Longmire will be charged with attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault and a firearms violation.

Pope, 18, is recovering from surgery at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, Oakland. He has two gunshot wounds to the abdomen, one in the thigh and one in his left forearm.

UPMC Presbyterian officials, at the family's request, have not disclosed Pope's condition. Aliquippa Detective Sgt. Don Couch said Pope was in "good condition" when Couch and Capt. Anthony McClure of the Beaver County Detectives Bureau interviewed Pope at 9 a.m. Sunday at UPMC Presbyterian's Trauma Unit.

Couch said Pope is cooperating with the investigation and "wants justice served."

Pope attended a party Friday night at 802 Eighth Ave. in Aliquippa, police said. The altercation began when an unidentified acquaintance of Longmire was denied a ride home with Pope and another person, police said.

Pope told police the man punched him, and when he got out of the car's passenger seat to defend himself, Longmire intervened. The 5-foot-3, 150-pound Longmire punched the 6-foot-9, 230-pound Pope with a closed fist, then brandished a revolver and fired five shots at Pope, police said.

Pope fled by foot and was able to find a ride to Aliquippa Community Hospital, police said. Pope was stabilized and flown by helicopter to UPMC Presbyterian, police said.

Aliquippa police responded to calls for shots fired at about 2:45 a.m. Longmire was identified as a suspect shortly after the shooting, when Assistant Chief Andre Davis received a phone call from a confidential informant.

Pope, who has signed with New Mexico State, is a three-time Associated Press Class AA all-state selection and was named the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's 2006 Player of the Year and a Parade All-American last week. He was scheduled to fly to Chicago on Saturday to participate in tonight's 43rd Roundball Classic at the United Center.