PITTSBURGH — Groups planning to protest the Group of 20 economic summit in Pittsburgh want city police to avoid using riot gear, saying it is likely to provoke, not prevent, violence.

At a public City Council hearing Tuesday, city officials said they're still studying how police will respond to protesters. City Public Safety Director Michael Huss wasn't at the hearing, but said he, city police officials and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl want to meet with the protesters before the gathering of world economic leaders on Sept. 24 to 25.

Huss said the city is doing legal research to avoid lawsuits against city officers.

City Councilman Jim Motznik said officers need the riot gear, however, in case violence breaks out like it did at the April G-20 conference in London.

GREENVILLE — Police are looking for a man who was siphoning gas from a car and shot its owner when the victim confronted the thief.Police in Greenville are not identifying the victim, who was taken to UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh.Police said the vehicle owner was shot in the chest about 2 a.m. Tuesday when he went outside and caught the suspect siphoning gas from his car. Police said the car caught fire and the thief got away.