Three men, who Lancaster City Police witnessed throwing items from a roof on Thursday, Oct. 14, were charged and released as part of an on-going investigation into a shooting.
Police were dispatched to Lancaster General Hospital after the report of them having a patient who walked into the emergency room with a gunshot wound to his jaw. Initially, the 19-year-old patient, of Lancaster City, whose injury was non-life threatening, told officers that there was an incident in the Reservoir Park area, 701 E. King St.
Information the victim provided to Lancaster City Police did not match what police found, according to a Lancaster City Police report. There were no reports of shots fired or suspicious activity in that area prior to the patient entering the hospital.
A follow-up investigation, at a residence on the 500 block of W. Orange St., investigators said they found blood on the sidewalk and steps leading to the address they were about to contact. When officers attempted to make contact with any occupants, two of them, police said, exited the house onto the roof from the rear window.
Officers said they saw items being thrown from the residence to a neighboring yard. Police said they entered the home because they believed evidence was being tampered with or destroyed. The men who were on the roof, police said, then re-entered the home through the window. There were three men inside, who were taken into custody, and transported to Lancaster City Police station for further investigation.
Detectives from Lancaster City Bureau of Police obtained and executed a search warrant at 508 W. Orange St, related to the shooting investigation. During a search, investigators located evidence that contradicted information they received earlier. Based on blood and other items found inside a bedroom within the residence, it became apparent that the shooting occurred inside 508 W. Orange St.
Detectives spent several hours processing the crime scene and collecting evidence, to include a small amount of heroin, a small amount of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, shell casings and other evidence related to the shooting. The firearm involved in the shooting was not located. As a result of the search warrant, Det. Thomas Ginder charged the three men:
Jose Acosta, 18-years-old
Charged with one count of tampering with a fabricating physical evidence, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, one count of possession of small amount of marijuana and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia
Elvis Salcedo, 19-year-old
Charged with one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, one count of criminal conspiracy to commit tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and one count of possession heroin
Jared Ruperto, 20-year-old
Charged with one count of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, and one count of criminal conspiracy to commit tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.
Lancaster City Police interviewed, processed and released pending a summons of the three men. The investigation has been hampered by misleading information, including information provided by the victim, as to what happened and where the incident occurred. The investigation into this incident is continuing and additional charges are possible, pending the outcome of the investigation. Anyone with further information regarding this case is asked to call Lancaster City Police at 717-735-3300, or Lancaster City-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-322-1913.
You can also click the submit a tip button on our website http://www.lancasterpolice.com, or Text a Tip to Crime Stoppers by texting LANCS plus your message to 847411. Tipsters may remain anonymous and do not have to give their names.
