News

June 8, 2009

Alleged gunman gives up

Don Farrell, who had been on run for four days, surrenders on allegations he shot and injured man outside Wilkes-Barre bar.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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WILKES-BARRE – A four-day search for a man suspected in a shooting that led to the death of one man and injuries to another at a city tavern has ended.

City police said Don Farrell, 28, walked into the police department at about 11:45 p.m. Saturday with his attorney, Vincent J. Cappellini.

Farrell, whose last known address is 45 N. Sherman St., Wilkes-Barre, had been on the run since police accused him of shooting Christopher Krisanda, 40, in the leg outside Liam’s Place, 760 N. Washington St., at about 1:25 a.m. Tuesday.

Farrell was one of two gunmen involved in the shooting, police said.

Police alleged Benji Benjamin, 22, fired five shots from a .25-caliber handgun, hitting Joseph Benson, 38, four times in the torso.

Benson was found near the tavern’s parking lot across the street. He later died at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township.

Benjamin, of East South Street, Wilkes-Barre, surrendered 20 hours after the shooting when he walked into the police department.

“I’m certainly pleased that (Farrell) decided to turn himself in and avoid any further situations with police,” Luzerne County District Attorney Jacqueline Musto Carroll said Sunday morning. “It was uneventful and a peaceful resolution.”

Musto Carroll said investigators are looking to determine where Farrell was for four days and if anyone helped him.

Farrell was taken to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility where he was arraigned Sunday morning by West Pittston District Judge Joseph Carmody on two counts each of aggravated assault and simple assault, and one count each of firearms not to be carried without a license and recklessly endangering another person.

He was jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $100,000 bail.

Benjamin is jailed without bail on charges of criminal homicide and firearms not to be carried without a license.

According to the criminal complaint:

Farrell and Krisanda were involved in a fight inside the tavern. After the fight spilled outside, witnesses claimed Farrell brandished a .380-caliber handgun and shot Krisanda, the criminal complaint says.

Benson exited the tavern at about the time Krisanda was shot, and followed a group of people across the street where investigators say Benjamin fired a .25-caliber handgun, hitting Benson.

Investigators suspect Benjamin and Farrell, with two other men, drove away after the shootings.

Edward Lewis, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7196.

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