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WILKES-BARRE — Police on Monday arrested a key suspect in several recent shootings and drug activity in the city.

Onje Crowder, 19, is believed to have been the gunman who fired into a Lockhart Street residence that was occupied by several people, including an 8-year-old child. No one was injured in the Feb. 18 incident.

Law enforcement officers who descended on a Bradford Street home late Monday afternoon in search of Crowder found him hiding in the basement, police said. He was taken into custody without incident.

Crowder, whose last known address is 37 McCarragher St., was charged Feb. 21 with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure and two counts of recklessly endangering another person. He was wanted since then.

Two other people were seen being taken out of 79 Bradford St. in handcuffs on Monday. It is not clear yet what charges they might be facing.

According to Wilkes-Barre Police:

On Monday the Wilkes-Barre Police detective/patrol divisions, Pennsylvania State Police Troop P vice unit, FBI safe streets task force, and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force initiated an investigation into 79 Bradford St. as being occupied by Crowder.

During the investigation Wilkes-Barre detectives applied for and were issued a search warrant for the address.

They then executed a high risk search warrant at the address.

After being removed from the basement Crowder was transported to Wilkes-Barre Police headquarters for processing and arraignment.

A second search warrant was applied for in reference to an additional drug investigation.

Other arrests

Crowder was the latest suspect apprehended as police continue their investigation into a series of shootings and drug activity that have left the city on edge in the new year:

Jyzah M. Morgan, 21, of Fulton Street, Pittston, was arrested Feb. 26 by city police after he was the alleged driver of a vehicle used in a drive-by shooting on Lockhart Street.

• Nigel DeShawn Velardo, also known as “Tay,” 22, of 390 Grant St., was arrested March 8 after a multiple law enforcement agents raided an apartment at 127 Academy St. for his alleged role in the recent shootings and drug activity. Authorities found various weapons, 4,000 packets of heroin and fentanyl, approximately 70 grams of uncut heroin and fentanyl, high grade marijuana, packaging materials in his Grant Street home.

• Colin Frank King Jr., 20, of Madison Street, was arrested March 12 by city police after he was allegedly found with heroin during a raid. King had outstanding warrants for alleged financial crimes involving am ATM scam.

At least three key suspects previously identified are believed to still be at large:

• Tareem McDonald, 21, of New York City.

• Elijah Jones, 21, of 390 Grant St., Wilkes-Barre.

• Genrie Smith, 22, of 390 Grant St.

Crowder
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_crowder-4.jpg.optimal.jpgCrowder

An unidentified male is taken into custody during a police raid on a Bradford Street home in Wilkes-Barre Monday afternoon. Police confirmed that Onje Crowder, 19, believed to be the gunman in multiple recent shootings last week, was among them.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_DAN_ARREST-4.jpg.optimal.jpgAn unidentified male is taken into custody during a police raid on a Bradford Street home in Wilkes-Barre Monday afternoon. Police confirmed that Onje Crowder, 19, believed to be the gunman in multiple recent shootings last week, was among them. Dan Stokes | Times Leader

By Dan Stokes

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Reach Dan Stokes at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @ByDanStokes