‘Will it take an innocent child being shot?’

After recent violence in Easton, West Ward gathering discusses making neighborhood safer

“I’m getting tired,” Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck told about a dozen residents of Easton’s West Ward who gathered Wednesday afternoon to discuss making their neighborhoods safer in light of recent shootings.

Members of the South Side Civic Association, West Ward Wise, Easton Block Watch and Easton Guardian Angels organized the meeting at Centennial Park at 12th and Ferry streets, an area neighbors say is known for high crime.

Easton police Chief Carl Scalzo said there have been 17 shootings in Easton in the last two months.

One of the more recent incidents involved a 31-year-old man found with gunshot wounds Sept. 24 at 12th and Washington streets. A stolen handgun was found near the man and several vehicles were hit by gunfire. Police said they found evidence of a shooting at nearby Cherry and Lehigh streets, but were met by uncooperative witnesses. Police have not released the man’s identity or condition and are still investigating.

In the absence of that communication, Houck said, his office is working to get stiffer sentences, including for juveniles convicted in adult criminal court and for adults convicted of using minors to commit crimes.

“There won’t be any crazy deals made” with defendants charged in shootings, Houcksaid. “Otherwise, what will happen when these people get out is an innocent child is going to end up being shot. Is that what it’ll take before we as a community finally step upandsay enough is enough, before neighbors start taking advantage of ways to report tips anonymously to the police?

“We need your cooperation,” he said.

Lance Wheeler, president of the Easton NAACP and West Ward Wise organization aimed at improving neighborhood quality of life, agreed.

“Crime and violence are a serious concern here,” Wheeler said. “People need to wake upandfully understand what’s going on.”

South Side Civic Association President Melody Rogers urged neighbors to report suspicious people and activities to police.

“You can tell 911 not to send police to your home and have themcall you by phone so you can give them information,” Rogers said.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr., noting the low turnout was “a start,” urged neighbors to keep coming together, communicating with each other and being “the eyes and ears” for police.

Scalzo said this would help, as police are facing “a tough time right now.”

Coronavirus pandemic restrictions and civil unrest over police shootings of people of color, along with increasing calls to defund police departments, are challenges police must overcome, Scalzo said.

“There’s a lack of cooperation and respect for police,” he said. “And to add to it, there seems to be a lot more guns in the streets now.”

Neighbor Dianna Miller walked away from Wednesday’s gathering encouraged.

“It scares you when your neighbor’s house gets shot up,” she said. “My brother recently was walking in the area between 12th and 13th streets when he heard a gunshot. I worry about mygrandchildren coming to visit. It’s just good to see people from the community coming together to address this.”