HARRISBURG, Ill. - It appears one of the shootings in Harrisburg this week might not be gang-affiliated, but instead might be just a boyfriend-girlfriend dispute.
That'd be the one that happened Friday afternoon, April 28, before 4 p.m. (an exact time was unavailable; folks in the area have reported times between 2:30 and 4).
They indicated that a young male and a female were fighting on Feazel Street at Dorris Street when the fight started, and it progressed down a block to Feazel and Robinson.
Apparently the fight attracted attention, and passing motorists stopped to see if either party needed assistance. Each offer was turned down.
However, one man driving by stopped and asked if they needed any assistance, and the male of the party is alleged at that time to have pulled a handgun and shot that driver, this happening in the vicinity of Dorrisville Baptist Church.
Recent reports indicate that the young man alleged to have been the shooter is at large; however, some sources in Williamson County have advised that they are aware of an 18-year-old having been taken into custody late Friday; we're checking that out.
The other shooting occurred Tuesday afternoon, April 24, at about 1:15 at a location on Raymond Street.
There were reportedly two parties firing at each other, with - as usual - neither party striking each other in the shootout.
Reports from those who know the two parties indicate it's the same bunch who can usually hit the broad side of a barn but only get lucky once in a while when it comes to landing a shot on a human...fortunately.
One young man was reported detained, but our sources indicate he was released.
The incident is being characterized by folks in that part of town as a continuation of the ongoing battle between two factions - who like to call themselves "gangs" - and who have caused quite a lot of havoc in town over the past five years. We did a comprehensive report on it after the shooting in February, which you can read right here if you have an online membership to the e-Edition.
The two incidents follow a reported stabbing incident at one of the bars in Harrisburg on Saturday night, April 22, about which we have no information except that it's reported to have happened.
When we learn more, we'll bring it to you. Keep checking back.