Crime & Safety

Police Investigating Midnight Shoot Out at Arch and Oak Streets

Authorities recovered 30 shell casings from three different weapons at the scene.

Police are investigating a gun battle in the area of Arch and East Oak streets that erupted around midnight on Wednesday, Dec. 19, terrifying neighbors.

According to Norristown Police Chief Russell Bono, officers responded to the scene at 12:10 a.m. on Wednesday for a report of shots fired in the area. There, they recovered 30 spent shell casings from at least three different types of weapons. 

"[We recovered] .40 caliber shell casings, 9mm shell casings and a .380," said Chief Bono. "All semi-automatic handguns."

Find out what's happening in Norristownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

No one was reported injured in the incident, but at least one home in the 700 block of Arch Street was damaged when a bullet entered a front window and struck a wall inside the home. Police reportedly have very little information at this point in the investigation.

"We have no suspects, no witnesses, no one reported injured at any area hospitals," said Chief Bono.

Find out what's happening in Norristownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A resident of the area contacted Norristown Patch after hearing the shots and calling 911.

"I was outside... I'm shaking," said Lisa Terio. "This was the worst I have ever heard."

Shots were heard in the same vicinity two weeks earlier, though only five shots were reported heard in that incident and again, no one was injured. A nearby church was damaged when a stray bullet went through a church office window.

"Obviously we're very concerned," said Chief Bono. "That's a lot of rounds and certainly a danger to anyone living in that neighborhood."

Chief Bono noted that while Norristown has seen more than its fair share of violence in recent history, it's not a problem that it faces alone.

"It just goes back to [gun] violence – not only in Norristown, but across the whole country," he said. "It's just the first resort of people – individuals and groups – of how to settle their differences. Today they just start pulling out guns and start shooting."

"We're going to do everything we can to identify who's responsible for this and arrest them." said Chief Bono.

Anyone with information about this incident should contact the Norristown Police Department at 610-270-0977.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.