Gunfight shatters windows

Published 10:18 pm Monday, June 27, 2011

This rear window was shattered Saturday night when a gunfight broke out on Saint James Avenue. Nobody was injured, but several vehicles were damaged.

Suffolk police are seeking at least two gunmen who were involved in a fight that occurred just before 11 p.m. on Saturday night and damaged at least five vehicles.

Police were dispatched to the disturbance in the 300 block of Saint James Avenue, city spokeswoman Debbie George said. Prior to the arrival of police officers, two individuals had fired shots at each other and then fled the scene, she said.

The shots struck windows, windshields and a side-view mirror on five vehicles. One of the vehicles them belonged to James Young, who has lived there for five years.

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“We had just gotten home from a family reunion,” Young said. He and his family members were relaxing in their home when they heard the shots.

“I was laying across the bed when I heard shots from two different guns,” he said. “One was a little more powerful than the other.”

The family members took cover inside their house.

“We didn’t know exactly what angle it was coming from,” he said. When he finally looked outside, he “saw the streets flooded with policemen,” Young said.

A bullet had gone through both windshields of his car. It was at the repair shop on Monday.

Young said Saint James is typically a relatively quiet street, though it is close to some rough neighborhoods.

“Every once in a while you might hear gunshots, but they come from over there,” he said, pointing behind his house. “This street here is really a quiet street.”

The culprits had fled the scene by the time police arrived, George said.

Anyone who has information is asked to call Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP. Callers to Crime Line never have to give their names or appear in court, and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.