PENN HILLS, Pa. --
A young volunteer firefighter was attacked by several people while he walked home from Thad Stevens Volunteer Fire Department in Penn Hills.
WTAE Channel 4's Shannon Perrine reported that it started early Friday evening, when firefighters were cooking out at the fire hall on Robinson Boulevard.
"About 7:30, they looked up on this hill and there was a bunch of kids up there. They had rocks and stones, and throwing down at them and swearing -- I mean, really foul-mouthed swearing at the guys -- and they were shocked," fire department President Rich Grove said.
Later, 23-year-old firefighter TJ Howe was met by 15 youths as he walked home.
"Next thing, they turned around, and here's one of our young firefighters walking down. His shirt was torn, he was kicked, he was punched, he was choked, he was knocked down," Grove said.
Howe has cuts and bruises but was expected to be OK.
Volunteer firefighters were upset that the young thugs spent their time hurting the department instead of helping it.
"I would love them to, say, be sitting down with their family and having dinner, and it would be 20 degrees and snow and cold, and the fire bell rings and they have to get up and leave," Grove said. "And they have to get up and go and get on the truck and put out a fire because somebody is in trouble."
A new security system with surveillance cameras is being installed at the fire department, which had money and a big-screen TV stolen during a recent break-in, Grove said. Old locks are being replaced by swipe cards.
Penn Hills police are investigating Howe's beating and the recent break-in at the fire hall. No arrests have been made. Police are asking for tips from the public.
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