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Police, Lycoming County DA believe Sunday’s double shooting was gang-related

Investigators believe that gang activity was behind Sunday night's double shooting in the 2100 block of Boyd Street in the city that seriously injured two 15-year-old boys, according to Lycoming County District Attorney Ryan C. Gardner.

"Based on new information gathered by law enforcement, it appears that the most recent uptick in the violent crime is the result of two gangs exchanging gunfire back-and-forth between competing gang members," Gardner said Tuesday.

When they were hit by gunfire, the two teenagers were on the front steps of 2121-2123 Boyd St., investigators said.

Just under two hours of this shooting, police raced to the area of Wildwood Boulevard and Park Avenue to investigate yet another report of gunfire, but no one was injured in this incident.

Gang activity is nothing new to Williamsport, Gardner said.

"Unfortunately, despite the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to contain and eliminate all gang activity, different subsets of two well-known non-traditional gangs known as '400' and '600' continue to organize," Gardner said.

Members of these gangs are teenage males who are in the business of stealing and illegally buying firearms on the street to protect themselves and other members in their gang, Gardner explained.

This is all done to prevent members from competing gangs "from infringing on their illegal narcotic trade," he added. Members of these gangs are typically of the age of 15 and 16.

The two gangs that are believed to be involved in the shootings late Sunday night go by the names FNN or "Fear No (expletive)" and BTK (Born to Kill), Gardner said.

The district attorney stated Tuesday night that the homicide at the Victoria Gardens, 653 Hepburn St., at 2 a,m. Aug. 17 may be gang-related.

"We are exploring all avenues," he said.

Ziar Young, 20, was shot and killed in his apartment, police said.

No arrest has been made in either the homicide case or the Boyd Street shooting.

Gardner said the shooting last Friday night at West Edwin and Locust streets, where a 16-year-old male and a man exchanged gunfire, appears to be an isolated incident and may not be gang-related. Investigators believe the teen was attempting to rob the man. After firing one shot at the victim but missing him, the victim pulled out a gun and returned fire, striking the teen three times, court records stated. The teen, recovering from his injuries, was expected to be arraigned on attempted homicide and related offenses at a later date.

In part of a prepared statement issued on Tuesday, Gardner admitted that law enforcement is hampered "by the unwillingness of victims and witnesses to step forward and provide information. This unwillingness is understandably rooted in a combination of the victim or witness fearing retaliation or a sheer desire to not be involved."

Gardner said the issue of not coming forward to help investigators "is exponentially heightened" when juveniles are involved in these violent acts, be they victims, witnesses or themselves perpetrators.

The problem is compounded, Gardner said, when "parents or guardians of juveniles strongly resist all efforts by law enforcement to interview the minors."

The recent street violence is not just a problem for police, but for the whole community, Gardner said, adding that "law enforcement needs the cooperation of parents-guardians responsible for the children (who are) claiming membership to either 'FNN' or 'BTK' gangs."

The names these two gangs call themselves "strongly suggests that (teens) claiming allegiance to these gangs do not fear acts of violence," Gardner said.

The district attorney said police need "the community's help to quash this surge in violence, especially the parents and guardians of those involved in these vile organizations."

Gardner is urging parents to "initiate conversations with their children" if they are involved in gang activity, specifically the two gangs mentioned above.

"If information is learned during these conversations that relates to the recent shootings and shots-fired calls, immediately notify law enforcement," Gardner said.

If parents-guardians don't get involved in trying to help end the violence, Gardner said Tuesday night that there is the "strong possibility" that the bloodshed on the streets will only continue.