Shots fired: Residents want answers, officials remain tight-lipped

[The following is excerpted from an article by Gayle Johnson for LNP/LancasterOnline.]

When: Borough Council meeting, Aug. 8.

• What happened: Residents received no new information about a barrage of gunfire that left more than 20 shell casings from rifles and pistols near the Columbia Market House at 2:50 p.m. Aug. 5. No one was injured.

• Quotable: “I’d like to have known about what went on with the shooting,” resident Frank Doutrich said. “There was nothing given to the public.”

• Response: “I’m not going to make any comment about ongoing police investigations,” Mayor Leo Lutz said. “If you read the newspaper or watch the news, there’s some kind of major incident (always) going on. It’s happening across the United States, across Pennsylvania and across Lancaster County.”

• More: Police Chief Jack Brommer declined to speak at the meeting.

• Background: Bullets hit three cars and four residences near Third and Cherry streets. Witnesses told police they saw two men wearing dark clothing open fire on another person walking in the area. The targeted individual escaped unharmed.

• More: Chris Vera, who manages the Market House, thanked area police departments for their quick actions. “Their response time was amazing,” he told council members. “They did a good job making sure the crime scene was secured.”

• Details: Lutz urged citizens to come forward with more information. “We are willing to meet with anybody, anywhere,” he said. “People are afraid to talk. We need to hear from our residents what’s going on.”