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Crime Stoppers offers reward in shooting case

Webster County Crime Stoppers is offering a new reward for information leading to the identification and apprehension of the shooter involved in last Saturday’s incident that injured a 16-year-old boy.

Crime Stoppers is offering $500 for information on the incident in the 1800 block of Fourth Avenue South, where evidence indicates about 20 shots were fired. Information indicates a vehicle may have been involved before fleeing the area.

Those with information can submit it and receive the reward anonymously.

The victim in that afternoon’s shooting was transported by private vehicle to UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center for treatment of the non-life-threatening leg injuries.

“Those involved clearly have no regard for the safety of the general public and acts like this cannot be tolerated,” Capt. Ryan Gruenberg of Fort Dodge Police Department said earlier this week. “It is simply nothing short of a miracle no other bystanders were injured in this senseless act.”

Gruenberg previously told The Messenger that police believe that the 16-year-old and the shooter knew each other, and believe the shooting was not a random act.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Fort Dodge Police Department at 573-1424. They can also anonymously report information to Webster County Crime Stoppers by calling 573-1444, visiting www.wccrimestoppers.com or texting “LEC” and the tip to 274637.

The Saturday afternoon incident was the first of two involving gunfire over the weekend.

In the Sunday shooting, police were called to the intersection of Sixth Avenue South and 14th Street around 8 p.m., where they found a Ford pickup truck that was struck with at least three bullets, including one that cracked the windshield and another that popped a tire.

No one was hit by the bullets, but one male was treated on scene for cuts from shattered glass. No one was transported to the hospital.

Gruenberg said investigators are working to explore every possibility and compile leads to understand what led to each of the two shootings that weekend. Given that very few weekends in Fort Dodge see two shootings in two consecutive days, he said they are also exploring the possibility that the shootings are related.

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