Scranton police arrested five people Friday and are on the hunt for two more for their alleged roles in an April 15 gunfight at the Hilltop Manor public housing complex.
Detectives charged Chaquitta Morton, 28, 33 Marlboro Ave., Wilkes-Barre; Krystal Glover, 28, 1255 Rundle St., Scranton; and Janelle Marie Herbert, 29, 340 Blackmon St., Wilkes-Barre, with hindering apprehension and obstructing the administration of the law.
Also arrested were Kevin Jones and Marquis Johnson, no ages or addresses released, who were wanted on federal probation and parole warrants. Charges in the Hilltop shooting are pending for the two, detectives said.
Two remain on the loose: Shakim Abdulah Jones, 35, 201 E. Ridge St., Apt 3, Nanticoke, and Silvan Ifill, 31, 711 Griffin Pond Road, Clarks Summit. Police said they are armed and dangerous.
A firefight erupted on the 700 block of Herbert Street just before 7 p.m. on April 15. Police said Mr. Ifill approached Shakim Jones, Kevin Jones, no known relation, and Marquis Johnson and started shooting. Mr. Ifill then got into a car and a chase ensued, with the initial targets returning fire.
Police recovered the abandoned cars later, one on Pear Street and one, bullet-riddled, at an Exxon gas station in Moosic.
Police believe the shooting was retaliation for an April 14 shooting in the city on the 2800 block of Marvine Avenue and was the result of a running feud inside the Bloods street gang.
Police accused Ms. Morton of lying about the identity of Kevin Jones, whom police said was inside a white Buick involved in the shoot-out and was shot in the thigh, leaving blood on the car's back seat. She told police there was no contact between her and Kevin Jones, though cellphone records obtained by investigators indicated otherwise.
"Stay out of Scranton Kev! I just had a serious panic attack," one text message read, police said.
Shakim Jones and Ms. Glover are also accused of lying to police about their knowledge of Kevin Jones' involvement.
Ms. Herbert was charged for lying to police about her knowledge of Mr. Johnson's involvement in the shooting. Police said Mr. Johnson pulled out his own handgun and began firing back at Mr. Ifill when he opened fire.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call detectives at 348-4139.
Bail and preliminary hearing information was not available Friday.
Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, @jkohutTT on Twitter