POTTSVILLE, Pa. — UPDATE:
Authorities charged Gerald Barrow, 28, of Minersville with attempted homicide following Saturday's shooting at a bar in Pottsville. Barrow is locked up in Schuylkill County on $250,000 bail.
Another suspect, Malik Stevens, 25, of Pottsville is charged with aggravated assault. State police say he was shot in the leg and is being treated at a hospital.
According to troopers, Barrow and another man got into an argument around 2 a.m. Saturday as they left Woody's Bar and Backyard Paradise on Peacock Street in Pottsville. The men then started shooting at each other. Barrow was not hit, but the other man was shot in the chest.
State police say that Stevens then picked up that man's gun and started shooting at Barrow. Barrow went back inside the bar and continued to shoot at Stevens.
A Pottsville Police officer heard the shots and ended up firing his gun.
The man who was shot in the chest was flown to a hospital near Allentown. Troopers say he is in critical condition. They have not said what his name is or what charges he may face.
Two people were hurt in the crossfire. One was shot in the arm. The other suffered a minor head injury from a bullet that ricocheted.
State police say they continue to investigate Saturday morning's shooting in Pottsville.
Original story:
Yellow crime scene tape and markers surrounded Woody's Bar and Backyard Paradise on Peacock Street in Pottsville. According to police, a Pottsville officer heard a disturbance behind the bar just after two Saturday morning. As he arrived, shots rang out.
"I was awakened by maybe four or five quick shots, bursts of gunfire. At that point, I kind of got up and within maybe a minute or so there was another three rounds of gunfire.,” said Robert Doyle of Pottsville.
The Pottsville officer fired his gun but according to state police he didn't hurt anyone. There are at least three other shooters and police are reviewing surveillance video to try to identify a possible fourth shooter.
Four men were taken to the hospital including the three confirmed shooters. One suffered severe injuries.
Because a Pottsville police officer fired his gun during the incident, a department policy required them to turn the investigation over to state police.
“It’s a big scene as you see. It’s a parking lot. Inside, a bar and a patio, outside the bar. Everybody’s in custody that needs to be in custody so there’s no community problems,” said Lt. Scott Brennan.
Investigators have no leads about what caused the gunfire. Police say charges are forthcoming for at least two of the shooters. They hope to file charges against the third confirmed shooter.
“Even with surveillance, it’s not as easy as you would think,” said Lt. Brennan.
One woman who did not wish to appear on camera says she was at the bar when the shots rang out. She tells us she typically avoids Woody's on busy weekends and regrets her decision to go out.
Other neighbors echoed her concerns about the bar.
“With the gunshots, you never know. You could be out walking your dog and you could get shot,” said Deborah Pruden.
“That bar used to be known for an older crowd, working crowd, but now it’s mostly the younger kids. My wife and I just renewed our handgun permits and like I said, we walk our dogs and we’re gonna have to start carrying I think,” said Doyle.