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Police Search For Answers In Drive-By Shootings Save Email Print
Posted: 9:16 PM Mar 25, 2008
Last Updated: 6:43 AM Mar 27, 2008
Reporter: KKTV
Email Address: news@kktv11news.com

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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.

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Posted by: Jim Location: Colorado Springs on Apr 1, 2008 at 09:10 AM
Maybe if the citizens demanded that the police focus on real crime instead of comfortably spending their days writing speeding tickets, things would change. You people scream out against Islamic terrorism, but look the other way when it comes to drive by shootings, which is local terrorism. It's not rocket science figuring out who does this...go get 'em!!

Posted by: E on Apr 1, 2008 at 08:22 AM
I have seen JP's posts elsewhere which do not make much sense, and Mike you are correct. Why complain? What kind of question is that? We are not L.A. or N.Y., you can't compare us to that. Yes other larger cities have more crime, however we need to focus on our issues here. We need to speak up as a city and let our voices be heard about these issues.

Posted by: Dave Location: Monument on Mar 29, 2008 at 12:52 PM
JP is a tool.

Posted by: JP Location: Colorado Springs on Mar 28, 2008 at 04:57 PM
Because until we get a new police chief who knows what they are doing... things aren't going to get much better. And why worry when worrying won't fix anything? Complaining about whats happening and doing nothing about it is useless...

Posted by: Mike Myers Location: Crystal Lake on Mar 27, 2008 at 06:03 PM
JP, and how does the fact that crime is worse than LA or other cities impact here? Once again the typical response to cover up what's going on here. We (the city of COLORADO SPRINGS) need to worry about what's going on in our backyard instead how bad things are in those other cities. Jason is right. Riots are next!

Posted by: JP Location: Colorado Springs on Mar 27, 2008 at 12:30 AM
Wahsatch is too on the west side of Colorado Springs... and L.A. and other huge cities are still worse than here so why complain?!

Posted by: john Location: c.s. on Mar 26, 2008 at 10:28 PM
we have great citizens in c.s. it just some a..holes that mess it up.its time for me to get a hand gun.just in case one of these a..holes try to mess with me.

Posted by: Jason Vorhees Location: C/S on Mar 26, 2008 at 06:23 PM
Drive by shootings. Another example of the fine citizens we have in this city! What's next riots?

Posted by: Gary Location: Colorado Springs on Mar 26, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Wahsatch is not on the westside of Colorado Springs.

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