City cops believe two weekend shootings are connected and may possibly be retaliatory attacks committed by rival gangs.
Staff Sgt. Martin Schiavetta of the organized crime section told reporters both victims in the separate shootings were known to the police gang unit.
“Obviously when two shootings occur with such quick succession, we look at retaliation as a possible motive. Shootings we find are retaliatory and reciprocated,” he said, adding police are investigating past shootings to look for connections.
Around 1 a.m. Sunday a 19-year-old man was put in hospital with serious injuries after he was shot while driving along John Laurie Blvd. The second shooting happened around 10 p.m. Sunday in an alley in the 200 block of Malvern Drive NE. A 21-year-old man was brought to hospital with serious gunshot wounds.
“This goes to show that gangs have no regard for public safety and have disrespect for the general public, as any innocent bystander could have been hit by errant bullets,” Schiavetta added.
The Sunday shooting in the northeast community of Marlborough Park left longtime area resident Ron Mackenzie baffled.
“Normally it’s quiet around here and we have never had any problems before. The police said there were about five shots but I thought I heard more than that,” he said, adding the shooting was right behind his house.
Broken glass was strewn about the alley — a sign the quiet community he lived in may be changing.
“I guess it can happen anywhere, but it never really happened here before, and I have lived here for 25 years now,” he added.
