Charges have been filed in connection with the Saturday morning shooting at a bar in Pottsville.
According to State Police at Schuylkill Haven, Gerald Raymond Barrow, 28, faces attempted homicide charges, and Malik Stevens, 25, faces aggravated assault charges after a shooting at Woody’s Bar and Backyard Paradise on Peacock Street Saturday morning.
A third suspect, a male, in the case suffered multiple gunshot wounds and remains in critical condition tonight at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. Charges are pending against him.
Two bystanders suffered gunshot injuries in the fight. One has been released from the hospital and another is also at Lehigh Valley-Cedar Crest in stable condition.
The Latest on the Peacock Street Bar Shooting
State Police took control of the investigation after it was learned a Pottsville police officer fired their weapon during the incident. The city PD’s policy dictates any officer-involved shooting get investigated by State Police. Schuylkill County District Attorney Mike O’Pake’s office is also involved in the investigation.
According to a statement issued Saturday evening, State Police believe a verbal argument escalated into gunfire as people started leaving the rear exit of Woody’s at about 2:15 a.m.
The rear patio exit from Woody’s Bar and Backyard Paradise on Peacock Street is where people rushed out Saturday morning during a verbal argument that ended in gunfire. (Photo: Coal Region Canary)
That’s when Barrow and the third suspect in this incident, whose name hasn’t been released, pulled out their guns.
Barrow hit the unnamed suspect several times in the torso, police report. Those shots dropped the unnamed suspect, causing him to drop his gun, too.
Stevens then picked up the unnamed suspect’s pistol and “attempted to return fire” at Barrow.
Barrow went running back into Woody’s but even from inside the bar, kept shooting back at Stevens, who was outside, firing the pistol he picked up multiple times.
Looks like blood in the gravely parking lot at the rear of Woody’s Bar and Backyard Paradise in Pottsville. (Photo: Coal Region Canary)
At that point, a Pottsville police officer arrived on the scene and fired their weapon. He missed Barrow but the gunfire ended.
Barrow escaped injury. Stevens was hit in the leg with a gun shot.
In the crossfire, two other bar patrons — both male, ages 33 and 44 — were hit with gunfire.
One person was hit with a ricochet and suffered a minor head injury. Another got shot in the arm and was flown to Lehigh Valley-Cedar Crest.
Investigation Ongoing
State Police and the DA’s office continue their investigation into the shooting at Woody’s on Saturday morning. If you have any other information, State Police ask you call them at 570-754-4600. Use Incident No.: PA2020-282366.
Charges Filed in Pottsville Bar Shooting
CHARGED: Gerald Raymond Barrow, 28, of Minersville, is charged with the following crimes related to the shooting at Woody’s Bar on Peacock Street in Pottsville:
- 2 counts of attempted homicide (Felony 1)
- 2 counts of aggravated assault-attempting to cause serious bodily injury (Felony 1)
- 2 counts of aggravated assault-attempting to cause bodily injury (Felony 2)
- 1 count of discharging a firearm in an occupied structure (Felony 3)
- 4 counts of simple assault
- 5 counts of recklessly endangering another person
Barrow is currently in Schuylkill County Prison after failing to post $250,000 bail. He was arraigned on Saturday afternoon before District Judge James Reiley in Pottsville.
A preliminary hearing for Barrow is scheduled for March 9.
CHARGED: Malik Stevens, 25, of Pottsville.
Police have charged Stevens with the following:
- 2 counts of aggravated assault-attempting to cause serious bodily injury (Felony 1)
- 1 count of aggravated assault-attempting to cause bodily injury (Felony 2)
- 2 counts of attempted assault
- 2 counts of simple assault
- 2 counts of recklessly endangering another person
Court records show Stevens still awaits his preliminary hearing in Pottsville.
Charges likely will be filed against the third suspect who was involved in the original gunfight.
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