Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

Gunshots fired in weekend incidents
BY JENNIFER TODD, Staff Writer

Gunshots were fired in two separate weekend incidents in Lancaster city.

On Sunday, a scuffle over a handgun led to one person firing a bullet into the air allegedly to break up the altercation.

According to police, Shamar Goins, 25, became intoxicated and called his brother, Michael Dismond, 26, to help him get home.

Dismond arrived and found Goins to be in possession of a 9mm handgun. He took the gun from Goins and the two began walking to their home in the 100 block of Laurel Street, officials said.

While walking in the first block of East Chestnut Street Goins stumbled into a parked car.

Police said the owner of the vehicle saw the incident and confronted Goins and Dismond. A physical altercation ensued during which the handgun fell from Dismond's pocket, according to police.

Dismond caught and retained possession of the gun, however, the owner of the vehicle saw the firearm and attempted to grab it from Dismond, police said.

According to authorities, Dismond then fired off one shot in the direction of the Hotel Brunswick in an alleged effort to end the scuffle.

Passersby who witnessed the incident intervened to prevent any more shots from being fired, police said.

Officers arriving shortly before 2 a.m. found those witnesses among a group of men on the ground fighting for possession of the gun.

Police separated the group and secured the gun. No one was injured.

Dismond will be sent a summons for reckless endangerment; Goins was arrested for public drunkenness.

In a separate incident, a shot was fired into the floor of a second-story apartment in the 400 block of West King Street just before 7 p.m. Saturday, police said.

A 73-year-old resident of the first-floor unit called police after hearing a loud explosion after which the resident saw drywall and dust coming from a hole in the ceiling, according to police.

John P. Miller, 33, the resident of the upstairs apartment permitted police to check inside his home where officers observed marijuana, police said.

Miller was charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was committed to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Authorities said another person, who fled before officers arrived, was in Miller's apartment when the bullet was fired into the floor. Police said that incident remains under investigation.

It wasn't clear if a weapon was recovered.