The Selma Times-Journal

A Thursday afternoon shootout left two men hospitalized – one of whom police said was sitting on his front porch when the neighborhood erupted in gunfire.

Five Selma men were arrested Thursday night and charged with assault in connection with the shooting at Lapsley Street and Philpot Avenue, where more than 30 shell casings were found.

Investigators worked late sorting out the details and informing family members who filled the hallway outside the booking area at the Selma Police Department.

Michael Moore, 18, and Kenyatta Pollard, 28, were admitted to Vaughan Regional Medical Center where they were listed in stable condition, according to a hospital spokesperson. Police said Pollard was sitting on his porch at home on Duke Street when he was hit in the upper chest.

Police said the incident stemmed from a previous altercation over a vehicle that was broken into last week.

Arrested were Oscar Bernard Murray, 25; Andrew Shelton, 20; James Jones Jr., 19; Jimmy Tyus, 20, and Kelsey King, 26.

Police said five men – Moore, Shelton, Jones, Tyus and King – were working on a car outside an apartment complex on Philpot Avenue when Murray walked by. Murray apparently came back and opened fire, striking Moore in his right side.

“The other four men returned fire, and Murray ran in the direction of Mr. Pollard’s home on Duke Street,” said Det. Tim Barnhill. “Mr. Pollard was hit in the upper chest.”

The four suspects then jumped into a Chevrolet Caprice and fled. Police caught up with the vehicle at the intersection of L.L. Anderson Avenue and Franklin Street. A search turned up four weapons, including an assault rifle, which police said had been reported stolen.

Det. Frederick Walker said Shelton, Jones, Tyus and King were all charged with assault first degree. Tyus and King were also charged with carrying a concealed weapon. All of the men are held without bond.

Walker said neither man admitted to firing the assault rifle, which was found inside the vehicle driven by King.

Murray was charged with assault first degree and is held without bond. Family members waiting on details of the shooting said they remembered what happened earlier. They said the incident had been “brewing for a while.”

“Last Monday on Plant Street, they were shooting like cowboys and indians,” said James Jones Sr. “We called the police, but they came 30 minutes later.”

Walker said police recovered a 7.62 mm assault rifle, two .380 caliber pistols and a .40 caliber. Additional charges of receiving stolen property could be added, police said.