HAZLETON -- More crime and violence on the streets of Hazleton left one man dead.
Hazleton police said they have arrested a man for a homicide late Thursday night in the city.
They were called to an apartment building Grant Street around 11:30 p.m. Thursday for shots fired and when they arrived, officers say they found a man injured. He later died at the hospital.
The victim is a 34-year-old man. Investigators said he was stabbed.
While police were investigating at an apartment building, they took one man into custody on an unrelated drug charge. Friday afternoon, they said that man is their homicide suspect.
Hazleton police said Gene Hawkins, 45, of Hazleton will be charged with criminal homicide.
Residents in Hazleton say the amount of crime and violence in the city is getting out of hand.
Loretta Sabo lives close by. She said she heard the gunfire.
"This is getting too close and I did hear the shots last night. Around 11:30 I heard gunshots last night, yeah. But then I was surprised because I heard it was a stabbing, but then since I heard the gunshots. Maybe it was something else."
Authorities say they found one man bleeding from his chest in the parking lot. He later died from his injuries.
"As far as the manner and cause of death, I will leave that to the experts. At this time, I don't have information on what caused this individual, nor do I even know was he stabbed, was he shot, we know he was bleeding when we arrived on scene," said Hazleton Police Chief Frank DeAndrea.
This death comes almost a week after two people were shot about a mile and a half away on North Cedar Street, Colleen Hodge of Junedale says she commutes to Hazleton almost every day. Not knowing what might happen next, she says she is nervous being in the city.
"There are shootings going on all over and it's getting really bad. I think somebody should do something about the problem which is very serious," Hodge said.
