Pocono News Section

Seven Shot, One Dead In Williamsport Friday Night

Seven Shot, One Dead In Williamsport Friday Night - Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 5:59PM EST

Reported by: Jill Konopka
Saturday, Jan 5, 2008 @05:59pm EST
((WILLIAMSPORT-Lycoming County)) Gun fire rocked the Streets of one Lycoming County community Friday night, killing one and sending six others to the hospital. Police in Williamsport are now working diligently to determine if the shootings are related. Police are investigating seven shootings, one of them deadly, all within 30 minutes at four locations in Williamsport. Gunfire first erupted at the intersection of Adams and Mary Streets in the East end of town. Tom Lyons lives in the neighborhood, "We were surprised it's an extremely quiet neighborhood." Police say two people went down. Williamsport Police Chief Gary Whiteman said, "I've been here almost 16 years and I never had an incident like this before." Minutes later and only a few blocks away police say 49-year-old Randy Speck of Williamsport was shot and killed in the parking lot of McNamee's Bar on Franklin Street. Chief Whiteman added, "I don't know if he was on his way in, or on his way out, whether he was in there, whether he was meeting somebody and going into the bar." Another man was also shot in the same spot. Margaret Holland is a neighbor, "Umm I'd like to move this gets a little scary for all of us." Holland lives only one door away, "It's scary especially for a lady my age." In a third shooting seconds later, 31-year-old Michael Stewart says he and his friend were shot outside the Uni-Mart on High Street. Stewart told WBRE News, "A kid that was standing outside just pulled out a gun and just started shooting at us.")) Stewart later dodged our cameras as customers dropped in and out of the convenience store. Jason Lepley of Williamsport has lived in the city all his life, "seven in one day, seven in one night, that's amazing to me." Finally around 11 pm, Investigators say another victim showed up at the hospital saying he was shot at the intersection of Memorial and Third Avenue. Chief Whiteman told WBRE News, "Right now we believe all our victims are innocent, wrong place at the wrong time type of people." Police are still interviewing witnesses and checking leads. Reporter Jill Konopka asks, “Are they linked? Chief Whiteman responds, “Right now we have nothing to tie any of them to any of the other incidents. Because we can't have that consistency with descriptions it's preventing us from tying everything together. Still the shootings aren't stopping some from taking steps to ensure their own safety. Tom Lyons stated,” Neighbors are putting in security systems as a result and hoping to step that up to video surveillance and take a look at nipping it in the butt early on." So far police say three of the shooting victims have been treated and released, three more victims remain hospitalized. Investigators are not releasing any of their names. They also tell us they don't believe the shootings are drug related or gang affiliated. Anyone with any information should contact the Williamsport Police. The city’s new Mayor will hold a press conference Sunday night at 7 pm.