No injuries in two weekend shootings

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">HARRISBURG &ndash; Harrisburg's mayor shut down one bar over the weekend after a parking lot shooting was reported, and a second, unrelated shooting occurred Sunday, Harrisburg Police Chief James &ldquo;Whipper&rdquo; Johnson said.</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Friday night at about 11:30 p.m., Harrisburg officers were sent to Los Amigos bar on East Raymond Street in Harrisburg after Saline County Central Dispatch received word that two males were shooting at each other in the bar's parking lot, Johnson said.</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">At the time, officers told bar personnel that they would have to close immediately and that those present would need to leave the premises. A few minutes after the shooting was reported, Harrisburg Mayor John McPeek arrived to the scene and told the bar owners he was closing the bar Saturday. He later expanded the closure to a 48-hour time period. It was permitted to reopen Monday.</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Los Amigos is owned by Esteban Tello.</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">Johnson said it was fortunate no one was hurt.</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">&ldquo;We didn't have any report of any injuries or property damage,&rdquo; he said.</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">He said an officer found one bullet casing, which is believed to be from the shooting. He said the investigation is continuing.</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">McPeek said he and the city won't tolerate violence.</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">&ldquo;I just want to be very clear that we're not going to tolerate guns and violence around bars. There's no reason for it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Especially when this is in a residential area.&rdquo;</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">He said he is exploring creating a city ordinance that would prohibit bars in residential areas.</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">He said Harrisburg currently has three establishments considered &ldquo;bars,&rdquo; &ndash; Los Amigos, Town Square Pub and Sisco's.</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">He said Harrisburg historically has not had many issues at its bars, and he wants to keep it that way. He also said he wants to explore whether training for bartenders may be available that would help stop potential violence before it starts, and whether the city could make that training mandatory.</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">In the second weekend shooting, someone fired a weapon at the Mings Apartments on Marsh Street on the western side of Harrisburg, Johnson said. He said no one was injured, and that the shooting was not related to the Los Amigos shooting.</span>

<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: medium;">That shooting occurred at about 11:15 p.m. Sunday, he said.</span>