‘Bang, bang, bang’: Garfield Heights couple’s home hit by volley of bullets during drive-by

Jack Shea
·2 min read
5

GARFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio (WJW) – Terrifying moments for a Garfield Heights couple as their house and vehicles are hit by a volley of bullets fired from a passing SUV.

In a call to 911 early Tuesday morning, homeowner Joseph Burrier told the dispatcher, “hey, I live on Vernon Avenue. There was just like nine shots right outside my house.”

It was 2:20 a.m. when the 30-year-old Burrier and his girlfriend were awakened by the sound of gunshots.

“Just bang, bang, bang, bang, really loud noise. I knew it was gunshots right away. I just said ‘stay down,’ so we just stayed down until the gunshots ended.” Burrier said.

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Burrier eventually went outside and discovered that the spray of bullets and ricocheting shots hit his house, his pickup truck and his girlfriend’s SUV.

“We did have a bullet go through the gate on the porch and hit the screen door and went through and hit the front door, had two rounds hit a handrail. A bullet traveled and hit off my glass window back there on my truck, shattering it and busting out the window. I believe two bullets hit the rear end of her Jeep. It hit the gas tank and flattened two tires,” he said.

Investigators say surveillance video from a camera operated by the city of Garfield Heights shows the suspect or suspects’ SUV turning onto Turney Road shortly before the shooting.

They believe it is a newer, dark-colored Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Police say the driver turned off his lights as he pulled onto Vernon Avenue, and a short time later came the burst of gunfire that did thousands of dollars in damage.

“You know, I’m thankful nobody was hurt. I have the means that I can take care of the repairs, that’s encouraging, but it’s just disheartening, it’s disappointing,” said Burrier.

Detectives say they are investigating the possibility that the shooter targeted the wrong house or even had the wrong street.

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Burrier says no matter what the motive may have been for the drive-by shooting, those responsible should consider the consequences of their actions.

“One, it’s not warranted in any circumstance, but if somebody goes and does this, you could make a mistake and get the wrong house, you don’t know who’s in there. There would have been children in there who were hurt, there could have been just an innocent family. That’s what makes this so unacceptable, you just can’t do that in our society,” he said.

Anyone who can help identify the owner of the SUV or has other information about the crime is asked to call Garfield Heights police at 216-475-1234.

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