COOLBAUGH TWP., Pa. Police are investigating a series of shooting incidents in a Poconos community on Monday night.
Four people were injured after several shooting incidents at various locations in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County.
“We are still trying to sort out exactly what we have. There are many answers that I do not know, or that I cannot give right now for investigative purposes,” said Chris Wagner, Pocono Mountain police chief. during a news conference late Monday night.
The first gunshots rang out just after 5 p.m. According to a news release issued by Wagner, police were called to a report of several gunshots fired in the vicinity of Route 196 near the Tobyhanna shopping center.
“As officers began responding to the scene shortly thereafter, we received other calls regarding additional shooting incidents in the township,” Wagner said.
While police were investigating, they heard a rapid-fire shooting in the area and were subsequently called to 5330 Ledgewood Drive, where two victims were found. A 47-year-old woman was shot in the back and a 19-year-old man was shot in the arm, Wagner said. Both wounds were presumably caused by a high-speed round.
At the same time, police received another call and found a 20-year-old man in a vehicle near the intersection of Kings Way and Route 196, with a gunshot wound to the head, Wagner said.
Police then received an additional shipment of a vehicle accident at the intersection of Kings Way and Campbell Drive. There, they found a 20-year-old man in the vehicle who was shot in the leg in another residence in the Pocono Farms East development.
Wagner said the circumstances of the victims are unknown, but he does know that the woman who was shot in the back was flown to a trauma center, he said.
Wagner said police are interviewing people interested in the case, and that authorities are applying for warrants to search residences and vehicles. No charges have been filed yet, he said during the news conference.
“We are looking for several people, the exact number I can not give at this stage,” Wagner said.
There were several witnesses who are also being questioned, he said.
Police are working under the premise that the shooting is connected, according to the Monroe County Office of Emergency Management.
Police have asked the local community to take shelter and expect increased police activity in the vicinity of the Route 196 corridor, the development of Pocono Country Place and the development of Pocono Farms East.
According to the province’s emergency management office, police lifted the shelter’s recommendation early Tuesday morning, saying the investigation is continuing, but police do not believe the public is in danger.
Residents should report any suspicious activity or information regarding the shooting by calling Pocono Mountain Regional Police at 570-895-2400.
Police have put the shelter in place for the Coolbaugh Township. pic.twitter.com/VOcLyXDWv2
– Monroe County OEM (@MonroeCtyOEM) 19 January 2021