A month-long string of gun violence has left Cambria County communities on edge, with police responding to five shooting incidents between Stonycreek Township and Johnstown from April 11 to May 11.
The first of those incidents happened in Geistown Borough, where state police say a shooting occurred early in the morning of April 11 outside the local restaurant Tulunes. State police said a 21-year-old Johnstown man was in the parking lot when gunshots were fired and he was struck in the lower back.
Geistown Borough Council held its first meeting since the shootings began last month. No community members attended, but Geistown Borough Police Chief Ed Porada said his department has been taking steps aimed at preventing future incidents in the borough.
Porada said that since last July, Geistown Borough police crews have responded to 16 different major incidents at or near the restaurant. In response to the April 11 shooting, he said he initiated a high-visibility patrol operation over the past three weekends to deter suspicious activity, increase officer presence and improve public safety in the area.
Since that operation began, Porada said police have responded to only one disturbance call at Tulunes.
“Officers responded quickly, arrived approximately 40 seconds after the dispatch and found no active disturbance upon arrival, Police departments can continue this operation as staffing and operational needs allow while working to address ongoing public safety concerns in this area.”
The four Johnstown shootings are being investigated by the Johnstown Police Department, while Pennsylvania State Police is leading the investigation into the Tulunes shooting.
Tulunes released a statement after the shooting saying that for the past four years, it has operated without a single incident inside the venue. The restaurant also said it maintains security staff at Tulunes to provide a safe environment for all.