Pocono News Section

Four Injured in Poconos Shooting

Four Injured in Poconos Shooting - Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 6:25PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Sunday, Nov 1, 2009 @ 06:25pm EST

TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY -- A party here ends in gunfire and lands one man behind bars. We talked to the person whose family held the party that ended so violently.

Police were called to Cedar Drive in the Emerald Lakes Development around 12:45am Sunday. There were reports of a large party, then a baseball bat beating, then gunshots. We talked with the woman whose family lives where the party was held.

"My husband was giving a party for my kids," said the woman, who wanted to be known only as Keisha N. "And someone came who wasn't invited."

Police say more than 100 people were at the party, and the unwelcome guest was 22-year-old Dheklan John.

"He was asked to leave and when he left, he went to his car," said Keisha. "A couple people identified him and saw him go to his car, saw him pull out the gun and just start shooting wildly."

Four people, all from Tobyhanna, were shot about 100 yards up the road where their cars were parked. Joshua Rodriguez, 20, was eventually flown to the Lehigh Valley Hospital for his wounds. Kristian Richetts and Brandon Purvis, both 18, and an unidentified 16-year-old boy were treated at Pocono Medical Center.

John turned himself into police a few hours after the shooting. Police charged him with four counts of attempted homicide. John served time this year for disorderly conduct and also faces drug charges.

"Everything he's done, he's been in the papers, I don't know what the problem is," said Keisha. "I don't know why he's still on the street."

Dheklan John is now off the street and in the Monroe County Prison.

Three other people were arrested for causing problems for police, including John's girlfriend, 19-year-old Rachel Arndt of Pocono Pines. Police say John and Arndt made up a false alibi.