Hagerstown man wounded in shooting

January 25, 2000|By MARLO BARNHART

Gunfire erupted on a Hagerstown street for the second time in four days Tuesday, sending a local man to the hospital for treatment of wounds.

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The Tuesday shooting occurred in the 100 block of West Bethel Street at 12:10 a.m.

The victim, Clarence Crudup, 26, of 106B Bethel St., was shot several times in the leg and buttocks as he walked along the sidewalk near the parking lot of his apartment, according to Hagerstown City Police.

Crudup was taken to Washington County Hospital, where he was listed in satisfactory condition Tuesday evening, a hospital spokeswoman said.

"We got a description of the assailant from the victim and witnesses," Lt. Gary Spielman said.

The gunman ran east on Bethel Street.

The description was of a black man about 6 feet tall and wearing a black puffy coat and a black ski mask, police said.

Hagerstown's police chief said the recent shootings may have been drug-driven, even if indirectly.

"We must target the drug sellers ... the ones who shoot people and the ones who don't," said Chief Arthur Smith.

"We are saying that people who are armed are likely armed because of drugs," Smith said.

Smith, who previously was an officer in Baltimore City, said he is amazed at the number of guns police have recovered in recent weeks in Hagerstown.

Police were continuing their investigation of another gun-related incident early last Friday in the 200 block of Frederick Street at the area known as Five Corners.

Spielman said he doesn't consider the two incidents to be related.

The Friday victim, William Charles Price, 27, of 131 E. Baltimore St., underwent surgery at Washington County Hospital shortly after the shooting, according to Detective Bill Rourke.

Price, who was shot once in the shoulder and once in the abdomen, was expected to remain in the hospital for a few days, Spielman said.

Police believe the Friday incident began when a car containing the victim and two of his friends encountered the gunman and another man standing in the street in the Five Corners intersection.

"The victim got out and there was a struggle," Rourke said. "Then shots were heard."

Price was unaware at first that he had been shot. When he realized he was injured, friends put him in the car and drove him to the hospital, where police were called.

Anyone with information about either shooting, the gunmen, their locations and identities may contact police at 301-790-3700, ext. 236, or Crime Solvers at 301-733-4141.

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