James F. Copeland and Sheron K. Pasco were shot at Friday night by weapons that may include an assault rifle, police say.
By CATHERINE E. SHOICHET
Published October 26, 2004
TARPON SPRINGS - A man and woman wounded by gunfire outside a house where a large group had gathered Friday night have been treated and released from the hospital, police said Monday.
About 11 p.m. Friday, Tarpon Springs police responded to reports of gunfire on North Avenue.
Officers standing outside police headquarters on S Huey Avenue, about two blocks away, heard approximately 20 rounds fired.
Two residents of 605 North Ave., James F. Copeland, 33, and Sheron K. Pasco, 26, were shot while hosting a small gathering at the rear of the house, police said.
After someone at the home began to argue with three men in white T-shirts at the front of the house, Copeland and Pasco went out front to find out what was going on.
They were shot when three to five suspects opened fire, witnesses told police.
About 20 to 30 people were standing in front of the house when the shooting began.
Copeland and Pasco were treated for non-life-threatening gunshot wounds at Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital and released, Tarpon Springs police spokesman Sgt. Jeff Young said.
Copeland suffered a gunshot wound to his right forearm. Pasco was wounded in the left forearm and left abdomen. They could not be reached for comment Monday.
Young said the large number of shots fired and the circumstances surrounding the shooting make it unusual.
"We've had shootings in the past in the vicinity, but nothing to this extent," he said.
Ballistic evidence indicates that at least two different weapons were used, Young said.
One weapon appeared to be a high-caliber rifle, perhaps something along the lines of an assault rifle, he said.
Young said police were still investigating the incident Monday, and no arrests had been made.
Anyone with information about the case should call Tarpon Springs police at (727) 938-2849.
- Times researcher Carolyn Edds contributed to this story. Catherine E. Shoichet can be reached at 727 771-4303 or cshoichet@sptimes.com
