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Mayor, DA, Police Chief Respond to Shootings

WILKES-BARRE — After seven shootings in five days, the mayor responded Monday afternoon to all the violence. The violence has become so bad in Wilkes-Barr...

WILKES-BARRE -- After seven shootings in five days, the mayor responded Monday afternoon to all the violence.

The violence has become so bad in Wilkes-Barre that it prompted the mayor and D.A. to respond. They both held a news conference Monday afternoon.

The mayor of Wilkes-Barre, the Luzerne County district attorney, and the police chief met with reporters to answer questions about the recent rash of shootings in Wilkes-Barre that left seven victims and two dead.

Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton had tough words for people associated with the recent rash of gun violence in Wilkes-Barre at the news conference. In five days, seven people were shot, two died, and one of those deaths -- Friday's shooting of Peter Bielecki in south Wilkes-Barre -- was ruled a homicide.

"They are people coming into the project, into the complex, doing illegal activity. They're there as visitors," said Mayor Tom Leighton.

The Luzerne County district attorney and Wilkes-Barre police chief backed up the mayor, blaming some of the shootings on drugs.

"We're aggressively targeting crime, specifically drug crime, which we know, a lot of times lead up to this violent crime, so we're not taking this lightly," said Chief Robert Hughes.

But there were a lot of unanswered questions, neither the police chief, mayor, or the D.A. could say what led to Monday's shooting at the Boulevard Townhomes on South Welles Street that injured one man. Or if video from security cameras from that complex is helping with their investigation. Investigators also did not say if they had any suspects, only saying they're following some leads.

"We're not going to speak on that because the investigation is ongoing."

The mayor says the recent rash of shootings involves people not from the area. And he says landlords and property owners could do more to help.

"The city landlords and property owners must be aware of who their tenants are because their guests and visitors may be inviting illegal activity into our city," Mayor Leighton said.

Folks in Wilkes-Barre say they want to see more police on patrol.

"I have family that live right in the city up in the heights, and you worry about their safety, especially when something in that area is going on," said city resident Michael Budzyn.

"It's dangerous. You can't relax. You can't walk and feel comfortable," said Nanticoke resident Paul Peter Troyano.

The mayor says the city is increasing its anti-crime police unit and doing more investigations into drug trafficking and illegal guns.

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