5 hurt in Willingboro shootings

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WILLINGBORO – A weekend house party in Willingboro took a violent turn when gunfire erupted, injuring four teenagers.

It was one of two shooting incidents in an 18-hour period in the township.

None of the injuries was life-threatening, according to detectives, who did not announce any arrests.

Police said they found dozens of teens leaving a large house party on Pastoral Lane around 12:10 a.m. Saturday after gunshots were fired.

A dispute between two groups at the party spilled into the street, where the gunfire occurred, witnesses told police.

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Police found no injured people at the scene, but four victims later showed up at area hospitals.

A 19-year-old Burlington City boy with a gunshot wound to his leg went to Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County in Willingboro.

Two other victims, an 18-year-old Willingboro man who was shot in the thigh and a 15-year-old Willingboro boy with gunshot wounds in the hand and leg, sought treatment at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly.

A fourth victim showed up several hours later, around 11:30 a.m., at the Lourdes emergency room. The 18-year-old Irvington man told police he was intoxicated when the gunshots rang out and did not realize until later that he’d suffered graze wounds to his leg and ankle.

Later that evening, Willingboro police responded to a drive-by shooting.

A 25-year-old Elizabeth man was sitting in his car on Hillcrest Lane about 6 p.m. when another vehicle pulled up and someone fired two gunshots at him, shattering his windows, police said. The shooter then drove away.

Police said the victim suffered injuries from the glass and possibly a graze wound, but did not require hospitalization.

Detectives ask anyone with information about the shootings to call (609) 877-3001 or the Citizen Tip Hotline at (609) 877-6958.

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said he has urged the Willingboro Police Department to use resources available through his recently launched Enough is Enough Safes Streets Initiative. The effort helps local departments obtain additional manpower in "pre-planned operations aimed at preventing or responding to gun crimes and related criminal activity," the prosecutor said.

“It is my understanding that the Willingboro Township Council soon will consider a resolution that would allow the police department to take advantage of this program, which provides additional officers for short-term operations at no additional cost,” Coffina said. “I encourage the council to grant approval for this measure, and look forward to receiving a proposed operation from the Police Department to address street-level violence and the shootings that continue to occur in Willingboro.”