NBV: Resident questions police response to gunshots
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
After a drive-by style shooting early Sunday morning in North Belle Vernon, council and residents are hoping for better communication from the police department.
Virginia Ferguson, who lives on Fayette Street, called 911 around 5 a.m. Sunday to report shots fired outside of her home.
State police responded to the scene and took three bullet shells into evidence. They told her they would be handling the investigation.
On Monday, she called the North Belle Vernon Police Station in hopes of talking to Chief Eugene Lipari about the incident, but claims her call was not returned.
“One of my major concerns is that our police department has taken an ‘I don’t care’ attitude to this situation,” Ferguson said. “I think this is a serious situation. I don’t know if it has happened on other streets, but it shouldn’t be happening in our town.”
Other neighbors and residents attended the meeting to voice their support and concern.
Ferguson said she recognizes that state police are handling the investigation, but believes the local authority should be involved.
“I understand it is not their case, but I think they should take an interest in their citizens, their community and how they are going to go about keeping the state police informed and protecting our citizens,” she said. “This should not be happening in North Belle Vernon.”
Lipari denied the department is uninterested.
“I would like to know where you got your information that we are being lackadaisical because that is not true,” Lipari said.
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