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WILKES-BARRE — One day, two drive-by shootings, untold fear and frustration.
For the fourth time in a week, city police were called to a shooting incident Tuesday afternoon. Within hours, they were called to another.
No injuries were reported, but bullets first damaged a car on Dana Street and later a home on Dagobert Street.
Police Chief Joseph Coffay said investigators believe Tuesday’s incidents are related — as well as two others since Tuesday, Feb. 12 — stemming from a dispute between two groups of people, though it was too soon to say whether they were gang-related or drug-related.
“We believe the suspects are transient. We think some have New York roots,” Coffay said during remarks to the media following the Dana Street investigation.
He did say that a Feb. 12 shooting that left two women shot and seriously injured is being investigated separately and is not believed to be related.
Dana Street drive-by
City police responded to the area of Dana and High streets around 5 p.m. after the driver of a copper-colored car entered police headquarters and said their car had been shot, Coffay said.
Eight shell casings were collected as evidence by detectives.
On Saturday, a 28-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his upper torso in the 200 block of Bowman Street. On Monday, police were called to a report of gunfire on Lockhart Street.
Then came Dana Street on Tuesday.
“We believe these incidents have been a dispute by two groups of people,” Coffay said at the crime scene. “They are fighting each other with the result of these shootings.”
“There have been several cars involved in these shootings,” Coffay added. “We are just trying to tie the suspects to the shootings.”
Dagobert Street drive-by
At least three shots were fired from a vehicle on Dagobert Street at about 8:45 p.m., Coffay said, with at least one striking a home.
Caitlin Birch, 20, who was at home in the back of 42 Dagobert St. when a bullet came through the front window, expressed shock.
“We have no drama with anyone,” said Birch, adding that her family has lived there for about a year-and-a-half.
Birch, a mother of two small children, said about 10 people were inside at the time, including three or four minors.
“This is a good block,” Birch added.
Response to the scene included city officers, state police and members of neighboring forces including Ashley, Hanover Township and Kingston.
“We are upping our patrols in all of these areas,” Coffay said of the shootings. “The detectives are trying to identify the people involved so we can take them into custody and put a stop to this.”
Birch also had a message for the shooters.
“I hope this is random,” she said. “I really feel like y’all should know who you’re shooting at because there are kids in the house. That’s a really bad way to send a message.”
The incidents
• Tuesday, Feb. 12: Alanah Sobrinski, 19, and Nichole Santiago, 20, both of Scranton, are found shot in a car on South Main Street near Penn Plaza with life-threatening injuries. Police are still searching for persons of interest.
• Saturday, Feb. 16: A 28-year-old man suffers a gunshot wound to his upper torso in the 200 block of Bowman Street.
• Monday, Feb. 18: WB police investigate gunfire on Lockhart Street; no injuries reported.
• Tuesday, Feb. 19: Car struck by gunfire on Dana Street.
• Tuesday, Feb. 19: House struck by gunfire on Dagobert Street.
