TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP, MONROE CO. (WOLF) —
A shots fired investigation is underway in Monroe County, according to the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department.
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On Monday, the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department said it was dispatched to a suspicious male on Route 196 and Renaissance Lane in Coolbaugh Township. The call indicated there was a Hispanic male running through private property and then onto State Route 196 with no shoes and appeared in distress.
Police said they were then able to locate Hendrick Morales of Venezuela. Through interpreters, according to police, Morales related that he was at a party with his girlfriend, within Pocono Farms East and was chased from the residence by people who wanted to kill him.
At this time, Morales was impaired and admitted to snorting ketamine. Morales was unable to identify the residence he was at, his girlfriend’s name or any other relevant information to assist in the investigation. Morales was taken into custody for public intoxication.
On Tuesday, the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department said it responded to multiple reports of a shirtless male blocking traffic and approaching cars within Pocono Farms East Development in Coolbaugh Township. One person reported that the male was jumping on the hood of a vehicle on Rob Roy Drive.
Another report was that the male was attempting to open a car door on Gordon Lane. Police were able to locate the male on Gordon Lane. The male was identified as Luis Viera Aguilar of Venezuela.
Aguilar related that he was at a party within Pocono Farms East and was being chased and shot at. Police then positively identified Aguilar and attempted to verify his account. Aguilar provided minimal information to police and was unable to identify the house from which he came after being driven through the development.
Aguilar was then released without charges, police said.
A short while later, police began receiving calls that Aguilar was back in the middle of Rob Roy Drive stopping cars and disrupting traffic. Police then located Aguilar again and took him into custody for disorderly conduct. Police said Aguilar was unable or unwilling to provide police with information to corroborate his story.
On Wednesday, the Pocono Mountain Police were dispatched to Rob Roy and Leslie Way within Pocono Farms East for multiple reports of gunshots. Another dispatch advised that a vehicle had left 2121 Warwick Circle and crashed at the intersection of Coach Road. Additional reports were that several individuals had fled from the vehicle, while additional individuals were outside of the vehicle.
Police arrived at the crash scene and found a vehicle had impacted a tree. Police found the driver and 2 occupants with injuries. The vehicle occupants related that they were leaving an Air BNB rental at 2121 Warwick Drive, when they were shot at from the road and fled the scene, crashing into the tree. All 3 were residents of Venezuela.
Police then located another female on foot within the community who was supposed to be the driver, but fled on foot when the shooting started. The female was also a Venezuelan resident.
During the crash investigation, police found evidence of narcotics crimes within the vehicle. Police then located 3 additional Venezuelan residents on foot within the community who were running through properties.
These males all confirmed that they were at the 2121 Warwick Drive residence and one confirmed knowing Aguilar from the Tuesday incident. The males were brought back to police headquarters for interviews.
While at headquarters, police said that Yervison Zapata-Zul became disorderly within the police lobby and then threatened a female police officer. Zapata-Zul was taken into custody in the police lobby and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Police conducted a search of 2121 Warwick Circle and found evidence of a large party that had been occurring over several days. The home and curtilage were littered with alcohol and drug paraphernalia. Police also located evidence and corroborated the gunshots being fired including a neighboring residence being hit.
The investigation is continuing and police are executing a search warrant on the vehicle involved in the crash. Police are still working with the encountered individuals to identify the shooter or shooters. The investigation indicates that this was a targeted event and that the public is not in danger at this time.