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Pocono News Section
4 Murders in 8 Days in Luzerne County
4 Murders in 8 Days in Luzerne County - Monday, March 30, 2009 at 5:15PM EST
LUZERNE COUNTY- 4 murders in 8 days in Luzerne County. The bloodshed began in Exeter last Saturday. A day later, a second murder in Plains Township. And less than a week later, two more homicides in Wilkes-Barre. Some says it’s a really disturbing trend.
25-year-old William Bentley of Wilkes-Barre was assaulted outside the Schiel’s Family Market in South Wilkes-Barre last Thursday night. Monday they arrested 18-year-old Zireek Gardner, also of Wilkes-Barre.
Police say Gardner and Bentley had an argument earlier in the day. They ran into each other again Thursday night. Police say Gardner threw a sucker punch. Bentley slammed to the ground. All of it was caught on a store security camera.
Prosecutors say it was murder, but not intentional. They filed involuntary manslaughter charges. And police say people should not be afraid to go to Schiel’s at any time. Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Gerald Dessoye said, "I'd like to stress that people should not feel this reflects on Schiel's Market in any way. It was a random meeting between two individuals who had a personal dispute with each other. It could have happened anywhere."
Investigators also say they are making progress in two other Luzerne County murders. 31-year-old Kimberly Burgess of Exeter was found beaten to death inside a sleeping bag near her home on March 21st. The stabbing death of 20-year-old Ronald Gabriel at the Energy 21 nightclub in Plains Township is also still under investigation. Investigators say the public should not be fearful, just cautious.
Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll said, "I think it’s surprising we have seen this many in such a short period of time. So it causes us all to pause and wonder what's occurring. But you don't see any pattern among the homicides. It’s not those sorts of cases." | |
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