Colorado Springs police were called out to two different drive-by shootings Tuesday night. They say the shootings do appear to be related, and both appear to be random.
The first happened at 8:45 p.m. on West Kiowa Street. Forty-one-year-old Willis Carico was jogging when he was hit in the elbow.
Then, about 15 minutes later, there was another shooting on South Whasatch Avenue. Thirty-nine-year-old Charles Josephson was shot in the hip as he was walking.
Police are now in their second day of investigating the incidents and having a tough time tracking down suspects.
Charles Grave considers himself lucky. He wasn't nearby when someone pumped five bullets into his van and a sixth into his neighbor’s hip.
"I think if the van hadn't been here he wouldnt be alive,” Graves said.
Josephson was left bleeding in the hands of his neighbor Joe Oleksa.
"I heard about four or five [shots]. I am from New York. I know what shots sound like,” Oleksa said.
"We have limited suspect information,” said Sgt. Creighton Brandt.
Police have not established a motive, or a connection between the victims.
Police doubt gang involvement and said it appeared the shooter simply picked targets who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"I don’t know of any shooting in the past 10 years when we have had two drive-bys in the same night and they are both random. It is certainly rare,” Brandt said.
In the meantime quiet has returned to South Wahsatch Avenue, if not all peace of mind. Joe is concerned about his neighbor.
"I have a funny feeling about it. I think he is going to get a gun," said Oleksa.
Police report they have top detectives working on this case.
Both victims were taken to Memorial Hospital, where they were treated and released.
Right now police believe the victims did not know the suspects. The only information they have about the suspects' vehicle is that it might be an older model Honda Civic with a modified muffler.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 444-7000, Detective Rick Gysin at 444-7500, or Crime Stoppers at 634-STOP. Those who call Crime Stoppers will not be asked to give their names, and they might be eligible for cash rewards.