2013 in Wilkes-Barre

From the Times Leader 

Jan. 17: Jamel Martin, 20, South Welles Street and Leroy Smith, 42, North Empire Street, both in Wilkes-Barre, were fatally shot outside Don Kasper’s Watering Hole tavern on Scott Street, Wilkes-Barre. No charges have been filed.

March 16: Renold Julien, 26, Wilkes-Barre, was gunned down outside Locals 88 tavern on Poplar Street, Wilkes-Barre. No charges filed.

April 25: Derrick Cottle, 40, South Hancock Street, Wilkes-Barre, was fatally shot on Reno Lane, Wilkes-Barre, in what authorities said was a dispute that began during a basketball game. Shauntae Thomas, 37, of Reno Lane, was charged with criminal homicide.

June 25: Zachary Williams, 23, Wilkes-Barre, was killed inside a home on North Sherman Street, Wilkes-Barre, while playing with a handgun. Brandon Switzer, 23, Nanticoke, was charged with involuntary manslaughter.

June 7: Vaughn Kemp, 24, Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, was killed in a shooting at a house party on South Grant Street, Wilkes-Barre. Joshua Ovalles, 19, Wilkes-Barre, was charged with criminal homicide.

July 18: David George, 25, South Welles Street, Wilkes-Barre, was killed in a shooting in front of his mother’s house on South Welles Street. No charges filed.

Sept. 13: Christopher Narainasami, 18, Hazle Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, was fatally shot while he was walking with friends in Boulevard Townhomes, South Welles Street, Wilkes-Barre. No charges filed but Jordan Stevens, 27, Wilkes-Barre, was captured as a “person of interest.”

Sept. 26: Jane Aiello, 46, Andover Street, Wilkes-Barre, was killed in a shooting allegedly by her estranged husband, Vito Aiello, 47, inside their home. Vito Aiello survived a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was charged with criminal homicide.

Oct. 13: Michael Onley, 34, Madison Street, Wilkes-Barre, was fatally shot in the patio area of Outsiders Bar & Restaurant, South Main Street Wilkes-Barre. No charges filed.

Oct. 13: Antonio Evans, 8 weeks old, died at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital after being found with bruises on his body inside a home at 351 N. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre. No charges filed.

Nov. 6: Eduardo Madera, 46, Wilkes-Barre, was fatally shot inside an East Northampton Street, Wilkes-Barre, home. Lamar Curry-Davis, 19, was charged with criminal homicide.

Nov. 11: Shantique Goodson, 27, Wilkes-Barre, was gunned down when sitting inside a parked vehicle in the Sherman Hills apartment complex, Wilkes-Barre. Kenneth Evans III, 21, of South Empire Street, Wilkes-Barre, was charged with criminal homicide.

13 murders. That puts us at a murder rate per 100,000 of 31.72. Philly is at 21.69. Think about that.


Dan Emplit WBFD
AKA Don Quixote