3 women accused of attacking photographer outside popular Pittsburgh hotel

PITTSBURGH — A vicious attack outside of the historic Priory Hotel in Pittsburgh left a woman with bruises and bite marks.

The victim tells Channel 11 she was snapping photos of the Grand Hall when she was confronted and attacked by three women.

Bridgett Byars tells us the women accused her of taking their photos without permission and then demanded the camera she was wearing around her neck. She refused.

“I’m not completely naive, so I was like oh you just want my camera,” Byars said.

That’s when things turned violent. Police say the three women — Montaeya White, Kaylnn Lucas and a woman only identified so far as Chrissy — began punching Byars in the head.

“She got up behind me she grabbed my strap there was a lot of wrestling going on,” Byars said.

Byars said she saved a lot of money to buy her camera and was not giving it up without a fight.

“I worked really long hours for a year for this camera and it’s expensive and I am not a rich person at all,” she said.

In the end, she was able to save the camera, but was left with a black eye, bruised knees and a huge bite mark on the back of her neck. One of the women also stole her phone and transferred money from a Cash App account. Byars says if it hadn’t been for a Good Samaritan who heard the chaos and called 911, things could have been worse.

“Pittsburgh is a good city there are really great people here but we have a problem and those people need help too. She was desperate she wanted that camera for money,” Byars said.

Two of the attackers have been arrested and charged, but police are still looking for the woman who goes by the name Chrissy. They believe she may be responsible for the bank transfers.

Anyone with information should contact Pittsburgh police.

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