Woman shot at family gathering when bullet pierces wall

CHESTER >> A day after six people were injured in two separate shootings Friday night, a family get-together turned tragic Saturday night when a stray bullet pierced a wall of a Culhane Street residence and struck a 61-year-old woman.

The three separate shooting incidents remain under investigation, Chester Police Chief James Nolan IV said Monday.

It was 10:46 p.m. Saturday when Chester police were dispatched to the area of the 1000 block of Beverly Lane for a report of shots fired. While en route, the incident was upgraded to a shooting, and the victim was subsequently located at the residence in the 1100 block of Culhane Street. When police arrived, the woman was lying on the livingroom floor.

Through an investigation, police learned there was a small family function taking place at the residence. The victim was standing in the kitchen when numerous gunshots were heard outside, and one of the bullets flew through the wall and struck her. Wounded in the arm and chest, she was taken to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, according to a release issued by Chester Police Capt. Charles Chubb. Her condition was not immediately known on Monday, though authorities said they do not believe her injuries were lifethreatening. A single bullet hole was found in the rear wall of the residence, which leads to a rear alley.

An investigation by city Detective Rhaheem Blanden is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Blanden at 610-444-8420.

A multi-victim shooting occurred just after 8 p.m. Friday. Chester police responded to a call for shots fired in the area of East 21st Street and Edgmont Avenue, with a possible victim shot in the facial area. Officers indicated that upon arrival police discovered five victims were reported to be injured, but no victims were struck in the face. All five individuals were rushed to Crozer.

According to police, a 21-year-old man was struck four times in the leg and as listed in stable condition; a 30-year-old man was struck once in the leg; a 31-year-old man was struck twice in the back; a 22-year-old man was struck once in the left leg; and a 44-year-old woman who was sitting in a vehicle at the time the shots rang out received facial injuries from shattered glass fragments.

According to a statement released by police, an unknown type vehicle was traveling East on East 21st Street from Edgmont Avenue, and began shooting in the area of the first block of East 21st Street. The vehicle continued to flee east on East 21st Street after the shooting.

This incident is under investigation by city Detective Steven Byrne. Anyone with information is asked to contact Byrne at 610-447-8430.

Another shooting Friday was reported at 10:07 p.m. Police responded to a call for shots fired in the area of the 900 block of West Ninth Street. Arriving officers learned the victim, a 19-year-old man who suffered a single gunshot wound to his upper right leg, was taken to Crozer in a private vehicle.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to contact city Detective Brian Pot at 610-447-8431.