Gun Violence Sparks Monday Mayhem in North Omaha

Three shootings, three victims, one neighborhood.

By Liz Dorland

CREATED Oct. 15, 2012

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  • Three shootings, three victims, one neighborhood. Video by kmtv.com

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Omaha, NE -- Two people are recovering and one man is fighting for his life after being shot Monday.  The victims were shot all within a few hours of each other and just blocks of each other in north Omaha. 

A rolling gun battle may be the blame for two men being struck by bullets in broad daylight.  The first scene happened at 1:15p.m. at 42ND and Browne Street.  Omaha Police said someone fired several shots, one of the bullets hit 32-year old Marcus Chiles. 

45-minutes later and a couple of blocks away at 39Th and Boyd, homeowners were on edge, after hearing multiple gun shots around 2:00p.m.  Jamie Bowels has lived near the scene for over 5-years and said gun violence isn't normal in the neighborhood. "I wasn't expecting anything like this on our block. I've heard of it all around us, but not on this block. This block has been pretty peaceful," said the stunned homeowner.

Investigators say 17-year old Anthony Couser got shot in the back at 39Th and Boyd.  Couser was able to run up the street to the corner of 39Th and Ames where he and by-standers from a local grocery store, waved cops down for help.

Then at 7:15 Monday night, someone targeted a home at 43rd and Laurel where 54-year old Virginia Shaw was hit multiple times. "I don't know if she was in her house or out of her house, but I know her house has bullet holes," said Lt. Matt Lippold. 

Investigators aren't certain if the three shootings Monday are related.  They do have one consistent message for anyone who has information that could lead to an arrest in the recent rash of shootings.  "It's time someone to make some money 444-STOP. It's there," said Lt. Lippold.

Reported By: Liz Dorland, ldorland@action3news.com