Pocono News Section

Fatal Shooting Inside Edwardsville Bar

Fatal Shooting Inside Edwardsville Bar - Saturday, December 15, 2007 at 4:17PM EST

Reported by: Jill Konopka
Saturday, Dec 15, 2007 @04:17pm EST
((EDWARDSVILLE, Luzerne County) -

Someone shot and killed a man in the bathroom of a crowded bar in Edwardsville. The fatal shooting happened over night on Main Street at The Glass Bar. WBRE’s Jill Konopka has more on the victim, the suspect and the investigation. Just a few doors down from the Edwardsville Police Department, gunfire rang out at The Glass Bar on Main Street early Saturday morning. Damian Frazier just moved away from Edwardsville, "That in a lot of ways does not shock me." Alfonso Rivera lives in neighboring Kingston, "It's a shocking thing that people would walk around shooting up the place, but it can't stop you from living your life." About a hundred people were packed in to the hip hop dance club when patrons started fleeing. Police say 23-year-old Eric Cusaac from Brooklyn was gunned down in the bathroom. He later died at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Sgt. Hal Bond with the Edwardsville Police Department spoke with WBRE News, "We believe one to his head and one to his chest. We had a long night and a long morning and we still have a long road ahead of us." The man on the right is Vincent Benitez of North Philadelphia. He says he was robbed of more than $200.00 by five men in the parking lot across from the bar minutes after. Benitez believes the shooter was one of his attackers who took off in a green van. Reporter Jill Konopka asks, “Are you looking for a green minivan?” Sgt. Hal Bond responded, “Like I said, it's still under investigation and possibly a green mini-van yes." Police say they're still looking for a motive. Sgt. Bond added, "We don't know yet, it's under investigation. We have a lot of people we have to interview in the bar that's what we're in the process of doing right now.")) Patrons at Swizelsticks next door say after the White House cafe closed down bad things started happening here." Larry Covert lives in Edwardsville, "Friday and Saturday night sometimes can be rough. Jill Konopka asks, It's has a bad reputation?” Covert responds, “Yup.” Jill Konopka asks, “Why?” Covert said, “A lot of shenanigans and stuff going on here." Sgt. Bond said, "Right now, I can't say it's a nuisance bar. Just like any other bar that attracts a large crowd would have." Neighbors tell us they're fed up, but fear retaliation. Some borough leaders want to step in too. Dave Stochla is an Edwardsville Councilman. "We should look into ordinances about cameras in the bars, maybe I don't know if that infringes on their rights to look into it, we'll talk about it at a council meeting." Edwardsville police say they are looking for a green ford Aerostar van with a dent in the rear hatch. Anyone with any information should contact them at 570-288-8463 or call Pennsylvania State Police at 570-697-2000 The owner of the bar Leo Yerashunas did not have a comment for us.