Gun violence in Columbia Borough: "It's going to keep escalating"

The following is excerpted from a 3/2/24 LNP/lancasteronline article by Gayle Johnson:

When: Columbia Borough Council meeting Feb. 27.

What happened: Columbia needs its residents to step forward with information to help the police department investigate several unsolved shooting incidents, police Chief Jack Brommer said.

Quotable: “I wanted to acknowledge the frustrations and concern about the violence we’re seeing on our streets right now,” Brommer said.

Shots fired: Officers are working on a report of shots fired Sunday, Feb. 25 in the 500 block of Avenue H at 7:59 p.m.

Details: This marks the fourth shooting incident in the borough during the first two months of 2024, Brommer confirmed in a Feb. 29 phone call. Police made an arrest in only one case, Brommer said, because witnesses refuse to cooperate with police. However, Brommer noted that citizens have offered tips and contributed video.

Reluctance: “We’re dealing with individuals who do not want to cooperate with the police department, and it’s unfortunate,” Brommer said during the meeting. “These investigations are top priority for us.”

More info: Sometimes witnesses or gunshot victims don’t want to talk because they are related to a suspect, the police chief said Feb. 29. Other times, witnesses or victims may stay silent because they are involved in the incident.

Heather Zink, council president, urged witnesses to talk to police officers. “This is a major concern for me,” she said during a Feb. 29 phone call about the shootings. “It’s going to keep escalating.”