Posted 11:33 pm Wednesday, September 26, 2012
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Police presence increased after third shooting
With several acts of gun violence around The University of Texas at Tyler campus during the past two weeks, police said they are stepping up patrols in an effort to quell any additional shootings.
Since the violence began, three people have been shot, but authorities said the victims will recover from their injuries.
“Right now we don't know if any of these cases are related, if they are gang related or if any have been acts of retaliation. We will be stepping up patrols and patrol measures to have an increased presence in the area,” Tyler police spokesman Don Martin said.
Since the violence began, three people have been shot, but authorities said the victims will recover from their injuries.
“Right now we don't know if any of these cases are related, if they are gang related or if any have been acts of retaliation. We will be stepping up patrols and patrol measures to have an increased presence in the area,” Tyler police spokesman Don Martin said.
LATEST shooting
For the second time in two days, Tyler police worked a shooting near the campus Tuesday morning.
Tyler police officials said they were dispatched to East Texas Medical Center Tuesday morning to two men with non life- threatening gunshot wounds.
“The victims advised they were passing out fliers for a Tyler night club and attended a dice game at (Cambridge Apartments) 3088 Old Omen Road. The victims advised after the game they were sitting in their vehicle in the parking lot talking,” a according to a news release.
The victims, identified as Kendrick Harper, 24, of Dallas, and Brandon Rainwater, 24, of Cedar Hill, told officers that a black man wearing a black shirt approached their vehicle, opened the car door and began shooting with a small handgun before fleeing on foot.
Harper and Rainwater said they drove to the hospital and were admitted for their injuries.
Tyler police officials said they were dispatched to East Texas Medical Center Tuesday morning to two men with non life- threatening gunshot wounds.
“The victims advised they were passing out fliers for a Tyler night club and attended a dice game at (Cambridge Apartments) 3088 Old Omen Road. The victims advised after the game they were sitting in their vehicle in the parking lot talking,” a according to a news release.
The victims, identified as Kendrick Harper, 24, of Dallas, and Brandon Rainwater, 24, of Cedar Hill, told officers that a black man wearing a black shirt approached their vehicle, opened the car door and began shooting with a small handgun before fleeing on foot.
Harper and Rainwater said they drove to the hospital and were admitted for their injuries.
Second shooting
Just two days earlier, Tarrington Joiner, 21, of Tyler, was shot at Patriot Drive and University Boulevard as he was sitting in his vehicle.
Joiner and another man argued with several others at Outlaws Club on Texas Highway 110 South, but left the club before the altercation became physical.
Moments later, a tan Dodge Durango with large rims occupied by several black men pulled up next to Joiner's vehicle on Patriot Drive at University Boulevard and opened fire on Joiner's vehicle.
Police said Joiner was struck in the chest, and his friend jumped into the driver's seat and immediately drove him to the hospital.
Joiner was listed in stable condition on Tuesday.
Joiner and another man argued with several others at Outlaws Club on Texas Highway 110 South, but left the club before the altercation became physical.
Moments later, a tan Dodge Durango with large rims occupied by several black men pulled up next to Joiner's vehicle on Patriot Drive at University Boulevard and opened fire on Joiner's vehicle.
Police said Joiner was struck in the chest, and his friend jumped into the driver's seat and immediately drove him to the hospital.
Joiner was listed in stable condition on Tuesday.
FIRST shooting
One week prior, Tyler police responded to reported gunfire at the Cambridge Apartments and found multiple spent shotgun shells in the parking lot.
However, police did not locate a weapon or the person responsible for the shooting.
Martin said in August that Tyler police saturated the area due to rising problems and took a “zero tolerance policy for the property and surrounding area.”
“Between Aug. 13 and Aug. 31 we flooded the area with bike, motorcycle and car patrols, and we made seven arrests, issued 177 citations and warned six people from the property,” he said.
Crime stats for the complex show in August, calls for police spiked and included residential burglaries, fraud, sexual assault, theft, possession of drugs and disturbances.
Martin said the 177 citations were for a variety of traffic violations and for loud music calls.
Cambridge management did not return a phone call for comment on the issue on Tuesday.
The University of Texas at Tyler Police Department Police Chief Mike Medders said his department closely works with the Tyler Police Department, and the two agencies have a written mutual aid agreement and frequently assist each other in investigating crimes that happen on or within the immediate vicinity of campus.
Medders said his officers also make routine patrols through the complexes surrounding the university.
“Due to the close proximity to campus, any time a crime occurs at one of these complexes, and it is deemed by authorities that there is or could be an ongoing danger to the campus community, a timely warning notification is sent out to students, staff and faculty to make them aware of the situation. This notification is required by the federal law commonly known as the 'Jeane Clery Act,'” Medders said in a statement.
Martin said investigators are not ruling out gang activity, or that the cases are coincidental.
All the cases remain active, and anyone with information is asked to call the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Tyler/Smith County Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833.
However, police did not locate a weapon or the person responsible for the shooting.
Martin said in August that Tyler police saturated the area due to rising problems and took a “zero tolerance policy for the property and surrounding area.”
“Between Aug. 13 and Aug. 31 we flooded the area with bike, motorcycle and car patrols, and we made seven arrests, issued 177 citations and warned six people from the property,” he said.
Crime stats for the complex show in August, calls for police spiked and included residential burglaries, fraud, sexual assault, theft, possession of drugs and disturbances.
Martin said the 177 citations were for a variety of traffic violations and for loud music calls.
Cambridge management did not return a phone call for comment on the issue on Tuesday.
The University of Texas at Tyler Police Department Police Chief Mike Medders said his department closely works with the Tyler Police Department, and the two agencies have a written mutual aid agreement and frequently assist each other in investigating crimes that happen on or within the immediate vicinity of campus.
Medders said his officers also make routine patrols through the complexes surrounding the university.
“Due to the close proximity to campus, any time a crime occurs at one of these complexes, and it is deemed by authorities that there is or could be an ongoing danger to the campus community, a timely warning notification is sent out to students, staff and faculty to make them aware of the situation. This notification is required by the federal law commonly known as the 'Jeane Clery Act,'” Medders said in a statement.
Martin said investigators are not ruling out gang activity, or that the cases are coincidental.
All the cases remain active, and anyone with information is asked to call the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000 or Tyler/Smith County Crimestoppers at 903-597-2833.
