Arrest made in shooting on Poplar Street
By John Joyce
Published in News on June 4, 2015 1:46 PM
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Jonathan Junior O'neal
One man is in jail and other suspects are being sought after a shootout on Poplar Street Wednesday.
A passenger car was caught in the crossfire but no injuries have been reported.
"They missed each other and struck another vehicle," Maj. Anthony Carmon said.
Jonathan Junior O'neal, 25, 605 S. Best St., is charged with firing into an occupied vehicle, possession with intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
O'neal, also known as "Little John," also had several outstanding warrants for his arrest on charges ranging from possession of drug paraphernalia to discharging a firearm within city limits and damage to property. He was placed in the Wayne County Detention Center where he remains today. His secured bond was set at $220,000.
The shootout took place at 5:15 p.m. in the 1300 block of Poplar Street. According to a police report, two vehicles were driving toward each other and began firing at one another. A passing vehicle occupied by two people was hit in the crossfire -- the bullet passed through the rear passenger window and exited through the rear driver side window but missed those in the car.
"The victim in that had nothing to do with the people shooting at each other," Carmon said. "She did not see any of the precipitating events."
Vehicle descriptions matching those given in recent shots fired calls were given to police. One vehicle was described as a dark in color Jeep or SUV, and the other, a silver four-door passenger car.
O'neal, who was driving a black 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee, was soon located.
"Investigators saw him and he started committing traffic violations, driving careless and reckless. They got behind him and they were able to stop him," Carmon said.
The occupants of the silver vehicle remain unidentified.
Carmon said the number of shots fired reports in recent days has been higher than average. O'neal is suspected to have some connection to some of those cases based on witnesses describing his vehicle.
O'neal has 37 pending court appearances on other charges. His first appearance for the charges related to the shootout will be held this morning in Wayne County District Court.