Post by Scumhunter on Feb 22, 2021 0:56:14 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: 6abc.com)
From 6abc.com:
EAST NORRITON, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- A manhunt is underway for the gunman who opened fire inside a bowling alley in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania on Saturday night, killing one man and injuring four others.
It happened Saturday around 6:45 p.m. at the Our Town Alley, formerly Facenda Whitaker Lanes, located in the 2900 block of Swede Road.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said the suspect, 17-year-old Jamel Barnwell, is wanted in the killing. He is being considered armed and dangerous.
Authorities say Barnwell walked into the bowling alley with two other men and an altercation ensued with the victim, 29-year-old Frank Wade of West Philadelphia.
Barnwell is accused of firing 15 shots inside the bowling alley. Wade was shot and killed while he was on the ground, said Steele.
Authorities say Barnwell and the men he was with all fled the scene after the shooting. They left behind three cell phones, one of which belonged to Barnwell.
During a Feb. 21, 2021 press conference, Montgomery County DA Kevin Steele named a wanted suspect in the East Norriton bowling alley shooting.
"We are searching for all three men involved and are asking for the public's help in finding the shooter, Barnwell. If you see him, do not approach him as he is considered armed and dangerous having fled the bowling alley with the gun he used to kill Frank Wade," said Steele.
Four other family members of Wade were also injured in the shooting. They have been identified as a 31-year-old man, a 21-year-old man, a 19-year-old man and a 26-year-old man. All four victims are listed in stable condition at an area hospital.
Steele says there were about 50 to 75 people, including young children, who were inside the bowling alley when the gunfire erupted. Some people took shelter inside a nearby mechanical closet.
"You start hearing, 'Pop pop pop pop pop.' You hear them going off and everyone started panicking, running toward the back," said Harry Delmar, who was at the bowling alley with his family, including his 2-year-old niece and 9-year-old nephew.
"Making sure that they got out safe. My first priority was the kids. I didn't care about myself. I didn't know how close the person, where he was, if he was going to go right down the lanes," said Megan Jantzi, Delmar's fiancé.
The Jantzi family came back Sunday for their car. They had left everything inside and a stranger took them home.
"A stranger, that was so nice. But I wound up talking to him and I'm going to send him a thank-you note today," said Jantzi's mom, Jeanne.
Barnwell is facing murder charges. He is described as standing 6' 1" and weighs roughly 150 pounds.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Montgomery County Detective Bureau's Crime Tip Line at 610-278-DOIT (3648). Or submit an anonymous text tip using Montco Crime Tips on the STOPit! app.
The Our Town Alley released this statement on the shooting:
"Our Town Alley management and staff are devastated by the violence that occurred at our establishment Saturday evening, February 20, 2021. Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and our entire community, which has been rattled by this unusual incident.
Going back to its days as Facenda Whitaker Lanes, Our Town Alley has always been a safe place where families come to enjoy themselves, a place for friends and camaraderie. As East Norriton Township Chief of Police Brandon Pasquale told news outlets, this incident is an anomaly, an uncommon occurrence in our neighborhood. It follows a year that has been tough on our business, our patrons, and our community because of the pandemic.
Just as we have been recovering from this difficult past year, we will also recover from this event. We affirm our mission to maintain a family-friendly, fun entertainment center. We are committed to working with authorities, security experts, and community leaders to make sure nothing like this happens again at our establishment."
6abc.com/east-norriton-pa-shooting-today-facenda-whitaker-lanes-our-town-alley-montgomery-county-pennsylvania/10359408/
Thoughts? Based on the above article's posting date, Barnwell was still at large at least as of February 21st, 2021. Sadly this is the second day in a row where we've had a breaking news case of a teenage suspect allegedly shooting multiple people. I get these are improving but still tough times but still a sad commentary on today's youth- that while I'm not excusing their actions, there's not enough being done in terms of community outreach and prevention.
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