Pocono News Section

Scranton Shooting Suspect Still on the Run

Scranton Shooting Suspect Still on the Run - Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 5:47PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 @ 05:47pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY- A Scranton teenager was shot twice and police are still trying to find the man who pulled the trigger. The shooting happened at the Midtown Apartment Complex Monday night, and neighbors are now worried.

The shooting victim has been identified as 19-year-old Raymond Blackwell. Police say he was shot twice, once in the stomach and once in the arm. Investigators don't think the crime was random, but many people here are still on edge.

A lone cop car and remnants of police tape ere the only signs of trouble at the Midtown Apartments Tuesday morning. Monday night was much different, as detectives looked for the person who shot 19-year-old Raymond Blackwell with a pistol.

Jeanette Hayes knew the victim. “He was a good kid, a real good kid. It’s a shame that it had to happen. It’s terrible," she said.

Diane VanCosky lives right next to where the shooting took place. The crime makes her nervous because the shooter hasn't been caught. She's now locking her doors. “It scares me because whenever there's something like that, I think they're going to run in one of the apartments and hide," she said.

VanCosky and her friend Eric Stewart say the Midtown Apartments have changed over time. “You want to come out and see good things happening and this only makes it worse for people, because they get their nerves going. A neighborhood should be calm and a decent place to live," he said.

Because the decency has been broken, many people who live in midtown are calling for more police patrols. They're worried about the safety of their kids. Marion Hinds said, “I think they need to have a cop here, really, even if everyone in Midtown chipped in to have a cop because this is ridiculous."

Fred Allen said, “You used to have your kids run around and you don't want to tie them down, keep them in all the time, they need some kind of freedom."

Blackwell was taken to Scranton CMC were he had surgery. A police cruiser heading to the scene was also involved in a crash. The officer was treated at the hospital as well as two women in another car.

Following that accident three men were detained by police. They were originally suspected of being involved in the shooting but were released after questioning. Police said they were only witnesses.

Police also say they have the identity of a suspect and are still looking for that person.