MUSCATINE, Iowa — The Muscatine Police Department is investigating a drive-by shooting during which 17 shots struck the side of a house, while three adults and one baby were inside; no one was injured. Twelve shell casings from two different guns were found at the scene.
Police received multiple 911 calls from the area of 600 Sycamore Street around 12:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26. Callers reported several shots had been fired. Within a minute, police responded to the scene.
"A little after midnight, I was in the house and heard a lot of commotion outside, and it was gunfire," said Dave Hocke, who lives less than a half-block from the house that got shot-up. He said it's unnerving to have that happen in his neighborhood.
Police are increasing their presence in the neighborhood. Three general crime investigators, two street crime units, and officers from the drugs task force are working on the case, including following-up on active leads.
"You got a driver, and two different weapons so at least two, maybe three people in the vehicle," said Lieutenant Tim Hull, Criminal Investigations for the Muscatine Police Department.
Police have a minimal description of the vehicle involved in the shooting. A small car, unknown color, going westbound in the alley on the north side of the house. After the shooting, the vehicle was reported to have turned and gone south down Iowa Avenue.
"Luckily no one was hit, we probably expect some retaliation maybe will occur because of this, so it may string into other types of crime," said Lt. Hull.
Lt. Hull said he is hopeful about solving the crime, though a case will have to be built without the help of the victims of the drive-by. Instead, the police department will utilize informants and information that comes in from the public.
"Sometimes you don't get a lot of cooperation from the victims. They're not always truthful about circumstances of their ties," said Lt. Hull. "A lot of these drive-by shootings are related to drugs and gangs and street dealings so, they're not always truthful about the motives behind the shootings," he said.
Lt. Hull denied the shooting was gang-related, but added that street dealing is definitely involved in the case. Lt. Hull said there have been three shots fired incidents this year in Muscatine, which is not statistically abnormal.
If you have any information please contact the Muscatine Police Department Street Crimes Unit, Officer Todd Koch or Officer Anthony Arnaman 563-263-9922 Ext. 240 or ext. 249