From STAFF REPORTS

CORDELE — An apparent random shooting Sunday night sent one man to the hospital for treatment of a leg wound and left a nearby resident terrified to think about could have happened to children in her home that also was hit by the gunfire.

Cordele Police Department Sgt. Charles Pheil said he rushed to the 900 block of South Joe Wright Drive just before 10 p.m. after receiving a report that a male subject in the vicinity had been shot.

Upon arrival, Pheil said he found Marcus Dean with a T-shirt tied around his right thigh to stop the flow of blood. Seconds later, EMS personnel arrived on the scene and after treating the victim there transported him to the hospital

Two of the victim’s friends told the officer they and Dean had been standing on the sidewalk at the incident location when they heard gunfire coming from the alley just north of them and saw three black males begin to run. They were wearing dark clothing and what appeared to be hooded jackets.

Additional investigation into the incident led to PFC Erica Cromer finding two spent 45-caliber casings and to the discovery that a woman in the area said she heard something strike the north wall of her home.

The bullet did not appear to penetrate the exterior of the residence where the woman said she had three children inside and feared the bullet(s) could have struck them.

Earlier in the day, officers had responded to another in a string of frequent complaints about random shootings.

Sgt. Carrie Lull said she was in the area of 13th St. and 23rd Ave. at 4 a.m. Sunday when she heard shots fired, radioed such to other units and then observed several subjects she described as “agitated.”

As she approached the group, its members ran from the scene. She then went to an apartment witnesses said they had seen the shooters enter. Upon entering, she said several more subjects ran out the back door.

In what she described as “chaotic” conditions, the officer began searching others inside the home but found it difficult to do so as the occupants constantly moved around and yelled at her while denying they were the shooters and providing the identity of suspects they said were guilty of the offense.

The apartment renter, Brittany Nicole Allen, 20, was cited for serious disorderly conduct “due to the fact there have been other shooting incidents where weapons have been found insider her apartment and from persons leaving her apartment as well as shell casings being located outside” her residence.

While at the scene, Lull also charged Stanley Burnam, 27, of 309-A 14th Ave. W., with obstruction of an officer in the performance of her duties.

In other weekend activity, officers: