Random shooting results in arrest

Watertown police say they don't know why a man randomly fired a handgun late Saturday in the 1100 block of Gotham Street, wounding a woman he didn't even know.

Jonathan S. Hart, 24, of 26212 Mountain Lane, Evans Mills, is being held under $50,000 bail in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building, charged with second-degree counts of assault and possession of a weapon. He awaits grand jury action.

During his arraignment Sunday morning in town of Watertown Court, Justice James P. McClusky asked whether the shooter knew the wounded woman, Stacie L. Vance, 24, and was told he did not. Additionally, the shooter did not know Miss Vance's male companion, Detective Sgt. Joseph R. Donoghue said.

Miss Vance suffered a leg wound, and was treated at Samaritan Medical Center and released.

Mr. Hart also was treated at the hospital. He suffered a foot injury when he was ejected from his motorcycle six blocks from the shooting scene, police said.

The shooting occurred at 10 p.m., police said. Mr. Hart, a native of Huntington, W.Va., was driving his motorcycle in the 1100 block of Gotham Street when he stopped and fired "several shots" from a handgun at the couple, police said. Only Miss Vance was wounded.

The biker then drove off, going north until he reached the 500 block of Gotham Street. There, he skidded 118 feet, struck the curb and was thrown from his motorcycle, police said.

A loaded handgun, believed to be the gun used in the shooting, was recovered at the accident scene, police said.

The arrest is Mr. Hart's second this year in Watertown. He was charged with disorderly conduct early April 4 in the 500 block of Arsenal Street, where police said he was "screaming and aggressively using his arms at people as if he was trying to pick a fight."

Police are hoping there were witnesses, and are asking they make themselves known by calling the department at 782-2233.