Things I learned today:
Guns are very, very loud. (Okay, I knew this, but it's always a shock.)
The police do come very quickly when you call. Lots of them.
I have no tolerance for bullets being fired in my general direction.
So, yeah, some of my neighbors' associates delivered them a warning in the form of lead today. At lunchtime, a green car (I saw it from my window. Where I was sitting. Yes, I could see the open window of the drive-by car from where I was sitting. Excuse me while I freak out again.) pulls up in front of the neighbors' house and five or so shots are fired at the neighbors' cars. Here is a picture.
I called 911. (The neighbors whose car got shot didn't. Hmm.) Then I called the neighbors' landlord, who said he's been told what's going on with his property, but when he confronted his tenants about how everyone says they're drug dealers, they swore they weren't involved in nothing like that. Yeah, and he seems to have believed them. However, they are behind on their rent, so he'll tell them to pay up or get out. Everyone else on the block will do the happy dance when they get evicted. Or if. It had better be "when."
All afternoon people kept driving by to look, which did wonders for my nerves. (Were they there to look? Or to shoot guns?) Cars would slow down and people would hang out the window. One car went around the block a couple times to take extra looks. A couple guys came to ride their bikes in circles by the cars while they talked and laughed on their cell phones (because this is so entertaining).
Nobody is parking anywhere near their cars.
297 words | March 28, 2006 11:01 PM | Real true storyWhat fun....
Which is more dangerous: hanging out near the site of a recent drive-by shooting, or talking on a cell phone while riding a bicycle in circles?
Glad you're OK.
Posted by: Jonathan Dresner at March 29, 2006 12:46 AMisnt it nice to come out of that trouble safe. its not fair for a good neighborhood to be inflicted with cancer society. but whats even nicer is to realize that the police will arrive in the nick of time, and in your case ...lots of them.
Posted by: Homer at March 29, 2006 01:09 AMThe police came a few minutes after the nick of time, to pick up bullets and ask questions. I hope that they find who did it. I also hope that the shooters don't come back to escalate their messaging.
Except for this one household, this is a great block. We have lots of long term residents, even in the rental properties, with a variety of backgrounds: blue-collar, white-collar, retirees, and students. There's a school bus stop on the corner, an elementary school down the block. It's really nice. I've never felt unsafe here before.
Posted by: Nee-chama at March 29, 2006 08:37 AMDrive-bys are a shocking thing to witness. I saw my first one in Oregon Hill a few years ago, which had much the same effect as yours here, no one injured, just property damage. The police, however, were nowhere near as quick to respond (it took about 15 minutes), there were only two officers, and when they got there they didn't ask any questions or collect any evidence. The empty shell casings were scooped up (there were that many) by one of those lovely long term Oregon Hill residents. It's not fun, and I hope that this incident doesn't repeat itself for everyone's sake. Glad you're okay.
Posted by: Matt at March 29, 2006 11:29 AMI saw you yesterday and I'm glad you're okay. I'm one of the officers that responded and this too concerns me as I (I think I told you) live only a few blocks away with my family. We (the police) have put considerable pressure on the evil doers in the area and will continue. Manpower is a tough issue right now but we do the best we can. If you want to speak to me, please call the precinct @ 646-3602. Ask for the officer that responded and they will get it to me. I think I got in 100 words.
Posted by: churchhillrugger at March 29, 2006 12:10 PMI bet if they're behind on their rent they're behind on paying their, um, associates. Or maybe they are just jerks. I am glad that you called the police and had a good response. Thanks for posting this.
Posted by: Amy at March 29, 2006 03:16 PMThanks, everyone. Yes, I too am glad that no one was hurt.
It's very strange how everything is perfectly normal now, but they could come back at any time. I hope the bit of extra police patrolling down our street (yes, I've noticed) will act as a deterrent. I haven't seen the landlord drop by with any ultimatums, however.
(Also, the 100 word minimum only applies to me, and certainly not in the comments.)
Posted by: Nee-chama at March 30, 2006 04:17 PM