WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — During a news conference in Williamsport on Tuesday, investigators addressed a rash of violence in Lycoming County.
A teen was killed over the weekend in what the district attorney says is a gang-related shooting.
Ahmeen Palmer, 15, was shot and killed in a parking lot along East Third Street in Loyalsock Township Saturday Night.
Lycoming County District Attorney Tom Marino is sending a warning that the county has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to gang violence.
"Once we start arresting, once we start prosecuting, once we start holding an adult who lives with these kids responsible, then you're going to see these gang members run for the hills," Marino said.
Investigators say Palmer, a student at Williamsport Area High School, was killed as a result of gang violence.
The Williamsport Area School District's superintendent released a statement following Palmer's death, saying, in part, "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of one of our students. The school district will continue to take active measures to support students, faculty, and staff throughout the week."
One day after Palmer was shot and killed, shots were fired into an apartment along Loyalsock Drive in Loyalsock Township. No one was hurt.
Marino says he plans to meet with the Lycoming County commissioners and staff at the Penn Vale Apartments following Sunday night's gunfire.
"Someone over there is not paying attention, who lives there and is being brought in there, and we intend to go in whether they like it or not and dismantle those gangs within those projects."
The D.A. says he and his team will do everything possible to remove Lycoming County gangs.
"To take the criminals off the street and break up the gangs and put people who murder people in prison for the rest of their life or in solitary for the rest of their life," Marino said.
Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter echoed that sentiment.
"If you commit crimes here in Williamsport and Lycoming County, we will work tirelessly until arrests are made and alleged actors are prosecuted," the mayor said.
The district attorney says there are suspects in the deadly shooting in Loyalsock Township over the weekend, but he won't be releasing any more information at this time.
Marino also vowed to aggressively prosecute four people arrested Monday in a double homicide in January.