PORT JERVIS – Two people were arrested following separate incidents in which guns were discharged inside apartments and the bullets traveled through walls into adjacent residences narrowly missing occupants.
On March 24, Port Jervis Police arrested Sebastian Robinson, 25, of Sparrowbush on four counts of felony reckless endangerment for allegedly firing a pistol the night before inside an apartment at Silk Mill Condos at 39 Church Street. A bullet traveled through the walls of an adjoining apartment nearly striking two adults and two children.
Robinson was arraigned and released on his own recognizance pending grand jury evaluation.
Detectives have not recovered the pistol involved. The investigation is continuing with other charges possible.
Earlier in the month, on March 5, during the late evening hours, Port Jervis Police responded to reports of shots fired in a three-story apartment complex on Cole Street.
Investigators determined that a shot was fired from a third-floor apartment, traveled through an occupied apartment on the second floor and into another occupied apartment, this one of the first floor. That bullet barely missed the occupants including small children.
Kervin Jeanty, 35, of Port Jervis, was arrested in that incident and charged with felony reckless endangerment.
Detectives recovered a 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition during the investigation.
Jeanty was remanded to the Orange County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail pending grand jury evaluation.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office assisted city police in both investigations.
“Guns have to be used with care, and he irresponsible discharge of guns cannot be tolerated, especially when it occurs inside occupied buildings,” said District Attorney David Hoovler. “In these two incidents, we were truly fo0rtunate that no one was hurt.”
“Calls involving shots fired are dangerous calls for police officers to respond to, and I applaud the efforts of our officers in apprehending the suspects involved in these cases,” said Port Jervis City Police Chief William Worden. “The defendants’ reckless actions placed adults and small children living in nearby apartments in rave risk of death or serious physical injury, and we are very thankful that they were unharmed.”
The police are also concerned about locating the gun involved in the March 23 incident and are seeking the public’s assistance in recovering the weapon. Anyone with information is asked to call Port Jervis detectives at 845-858-4003.
