Aug 11, 2015 2 min read

Residents of Washington’s West End are understandably on edge.

There have been three shootings in the area since July 31, with the latest occurring Sunday evening, when two as-yet-unidentified men opened fire near McCarrell Avenue. One comment that appeared in a story in the Observer-Reporter Tuesday stood out: “Everyone has guns, and we’re not afraid to use them,” one man who asked not to be identified told us.

That may well be the case. But if residents of the area see suspicious activity, or, even worse, witness a gun battle unfolding outside their abodes, we would urge them to leave their weapons holstered and call law enforcement, rather than stepping into the fray themselves. It’s all too likely that they will be needlessly injured, or someone else will be hurt, if they decide to take the law into their own hands, rather than leaving it to the professionals. They have the know-how to step into, and defuse, dangerous or potentially dangerous situations.

Police in Washington said they have been increasing patrols in the area, and both Washington Mayor Brenda Davis and Thomas Schneck of the West End Neighborhood Crime Watch urged residents to speak up if they see something out of the ordinary.

“People have got to get involved and watch their neighbors,” Schneck said.

Our story listed the phone number for police, and we will offer it again here: 724-223-4226.