Police investigate downtown gunshots

By BILL RODGERS Tribune Chronicle
NEWTON FALLS — Someone has been firing a high-powered gun at homes downtown.

‘‘No sane adult would discharge firearms in the middle of Newton Falls,’’ Adam Reed said Thursday while working in the kitchen of the Covered Bridge Inn.

After a few reports of residents complaining of noises that sound either like gunshots or fireworks in recent weeks, police got their first evidence of the shootings Wednesday when Mike Talanca found bullet holes in a house he recently bought at 17 W. Liberty St. No one is living in the building, so finding the holes was a shock to Talanca.

‘‘I know these weren’t here before,’’ Talanca said.

Talanca pointed to holes from bullets that police say were fired at the side of the house. One shot broke through a window and was embedded in a wall. Another shot went through both walls of the house, traveled through the neighboring yard, traveled past a swing set and bounced around a trio of pine trees. The building is about 30 yards away from where the bullet hit the trees.

One of the rounds was sent to state investigators for testing. Police Chief Robert Carlson said he would not know the caliber until the results came back, but based on the investigation, he said it was a high-powered weapon.

Officers believe the shots could have come from the alley that borders the West Liberty Street home. They found more holes grouped into trees about 15 to 20 feet from the ground. According to the police report, it is possible the gun was fired from the roof of one of the businesses along West Broad Street. There are apartments over some of the businesses and the alley runs behind them.

Neighbors around the area say the shots started about three weeks ago and usually are heard in the evening or at night. They often occur on Fridays or Saturdays, according to the report.

A woman who lives at the address with the swing set said she believes her two children are in danger because of the gunshots. She called police every time she heard the noises, describing them as fired in groups of three; deliberately instead of uncontrolled fire cracker bursts.

‘‘Please stop,’’ the mother said she would tell the gunman. ‘‘You’re putting my children’s lives in danger.’’

Reed and another worker at the Covered Bridge Inn said they have had a similar problem. Earlier this month, a cat the workers take care of was shot in the foot with a pellet gun. They found the gray cat limping around the alley, and took it to a veterinarian for treatment. Reed thinks the trouble in the area is being caused by juveniles.

‘‘These people have nothing better to do with themselves,’’ he said.



brodgers@tribune-chronicle.com