Morristown police have recovered seven 9 mm shell casings, and gathered eyewitness accounts of a light-colored sedan, as they continue looking for suspects in a March 21 shooting spree that sent at least one Mills Street resident running for cover.
No injuries or property damage were reported in the incident, described by police and residents as a series of popping sounds that some residents mistook for firecrackers around 1 a.m.
According to a report filed by Patrolman Brian LaBarre, he and two other officers had been investigating an open window at Morristown High School when “we heard three to four succinct popping sounds that all three of us immediately identified as the sound of gunfire. At that time we immediately returned to our patrol units when we heard an additional three to four popping sounds” believed to be in the vicinity of Harrison Street.
Patrols quickly converged on the neighborhood, zeroing in on Mills Street after a call reported gunfire in the vicinity of 88 Mills.
The following account is based on the police report.
Yahn Villegas told Patrolman Michael Molnar that he was leaving a friend’s house at 61 Mills St. when he saw a light colored sedan speeding southbound and heard what he initially thought were firecrackers.
“However as the vehicle sped past him he observed two individuals inside and thought that the passenger had his arm extended out the passenger side window.” The witness could not identify the gender or race of the individuals.
Heidy Collindres was walking home on Mills Street from a friend’s house when a car that she only could describe as light-colored, possibly a Toyota or Nissan, sped past her at 89 Mills. She heard shots immediately after.
A couple on Hazlett Street told police they heard gunshots, too, but saw no vehicle.
Daniel Loaiza was on his porch at 61 Mills smoking a cigaratte and awaiting a friend’s arrival when he heard a vehicle traveling southbound on Mills at high speed.
“Loaiza advised that he looked north to Mills Street to observe the vehicle, which he described as a silver colored, smaller 4 door sedan. . . as the vehicle approached Sherman Avenue he heard four or five loud ‘pops,’ which he thought might be gun shots.”
The vehicle passed directly in front of him, heading south on Mills Street, with what Loaiza believed were two male occupants.
“Loaiza advised that he then heard two or three more loud pops as the vehicle continued past him, at which point he ran to the side of his residence to seek cover.”
Seven 9 mm shell casings were recovered from the southbound travel lane of Mills Street, from 90 Mills to 46 Mills. The Morris County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation.
In a statement issued after the incident, Morristown Detective Capt. Steve Sarinelli said there was nothing to suggest that “any particular place, person or thing was targeted.” But he urged residents to remain vigilant, and to call 973-538-2200 with any information pertaining to the case.
A December 2009 drive-by that sprayed bullets into a house on nearby Speedwell Place remains unsolved. A family was inside at the time of that shooting, but was unharmed.
