OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – Shots outside of an Oshkosh bar…and not the alcoholic kind.
It appears nobody was hurt after shots were fired in the parking lot of the French Quarter along High Avenue around 12:45 a.m. Friday morning.
“We’ve determined that there was an altercation that occurred inside of the French Quarter that proceeded outside, and that’s when we believe the shots were fired,” said Lieutenant Andy Lecker. “Our response time is very quick. However, any of the shootings that we’ve recently had, individuals involved have been gone by the time that anyone has arrived.”
Responding officers located evidence that a gun had been fired, but no suspects were at the scene. One person believed to be involved was arrested on drug charges. The identity of the shooter remains unknown.
“It is reasonably common for officers to respond to various areas for disturbances outside of taverns. That’s something that probably happens in all cities and all communities…Officers will respond and try to mediate any issues and take law enforcement action if it’s appropriate regarding arrests or just splitting people up and sending them on their way or whatever the case may be,” Lecker told WTAQ News. “Gunshots being involved obviously changes things a little bit. Generally, in the shootings that we’ve had occur, the shooting takes place and the people have left.”
Police patrols can often be spotted walking through the busier areas around bar time, when many people are leaving the establishments, to try to deter any potential disturbances.
“We try to get our officers in the areas of some of the taverns where a lot of people tend to congregate, just to try to, through having a law enforcement presence, encourage people to just kind of move on their way and not get into any sort of altercation,” Lecker said.
But what about areas where larger spats seem to take place on a more frequent basis? A sizeable brawl occurred in the same parking lot just a few years ago.
“In an area where maybe there are some problems frequently occurring or something like that, oftentimes we’ll try to work with the businesses or the taverns in the area, help them come up with a plan and work together to try to prevent these types of things from happening,” Lecker explained.
Lecker did not say if any bars or other popular late-night businesses in that vicinity have formed a plan like that with their department.
Anyone with information is asked to call Oshkosh police at (920) 236-5700 (Option 1) or by using the Relay smartphone app. Anonymous tips may be left with Crime Stoppers by using the P3 app.
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