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Police search North Side gas station after assault as protesters vow to continue

Protesters who camped for a second day outside of the Exxon gas station on Pittsburgh’s North Side where two sisters were beaten over a $17 dispute, expressed concern Sunday that the owners and an employee who allegedly assaulted their customers will only be charged with a misdemeanor.

The Friday assault was captured on video and shared on social media.

The sisters, who declined to provide their names, said the dispute stemmed from a pump malfunction that resulted in their gas spilling, according to Pittsburgh police. The women’s demand for a refund quickly escalated into a violent confrontation, which a bystander caught on video, police said.

The video shows the male store owners repeatedly striking one of the sisters in the back of the head and an employee grabbing the other sister by her hair and dragging her across the pavement. “It’s a lot more than just a simple assault,” said Sharon McIntosh, who is a member of the Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence.

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