Bolivar residents concerned after multiple shootings
BOLIVAR, Tenn. — Bolivar police have responded to “shots fired” calls almost every day since Thursday. The most recent happened Monday night., and the most violent was just a day before at a busy gas station. “I heard gunshots,” David Alomari said. He works at the gas station where the Sunday night shootout occurred. “I saw people shooting across the streets and didn’t know what was going on,” he said. Bolivar Police Chief Pat Baker said three men stopped for gas when someone in a white Malibu pulled up and opened fire. All three men, who police said were targets, fired back. At least 30 shell casings were found on the scene. A bystander at a nearby restaurant was grazed in the head by a bullet. He was taken to the hospital and released. “Within the last week something has happened, and it’s caused a rash of shootings,” Baker said. At least seven shootings have happened in the last five days, according to Baker. No one has been seriously hurt, but it is enough to have some residents on edge. “It’s surprising because things like that don’t really happen here,” Alomari said. Police said in the last week they have confiscated five different weapons from four different shootings. According to Baker, three of the gas station shooters have been identified and warrants have been issued for their arrests.
