Residents express concerns about violence in Wilkes-Barre

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Following a recent spike in violence in the city of Wilkes-Barre, residents are speaking out.

Two violent crimes within just a few days of each other have made people in the city nervous.

“It’s a safety hazard for everyone. I mean, you can’t go home without getting stopped, you have to worry about it. So it has to stop, there has to be a way to stop,” said Phyllis Monda of Wilkes-Barre.

Crime is a concern for people in Wilkes-Barre.

“I’m scared. I’m scared for myself, I’m scared for my employees,” Bellia said.

Rosa Bellia is the owner of Franco’s, a popular pizzeria just minutes from the scene of a violent attack early Tuesday morning.

According to police, a man was shot while sitting in his car parked in the area of ​​South Main Street and West South Street in Wilkes-Barre.

The victim stated that he was approached in his car by a man wearing a ski mask.

He told police that the suspect opened the driver’s door, punched him in the face and shot him in the arm.

He was taken to a nearby hospital. His condition is currently unknown.

Bellia says she has witnessed the area’s decline over the years.

“My parents opened in 1975 in Penn Plaza, just a few blocks away, and you know, even if you left the doors open or left something outside, you left it where you found it, or people would even bring it in for you. Today, I would be afraid to leave anything,” Bellia explained.

According to police, a man was walking on Old River Road early Saturday morning when he was approached by two suspects.

The victim reported being challenged to a fight and then being hit with a pistol and stabbed in the lower back.

The suspects fled the scene and the victim was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

“It’s a safety risk for everyone. I mean, you can’t go home without getting stopped, you have to worry about it. So it has to stop, it has to stop somehow,” Monda added.

Police say both investigations are still ongoing.