Bridgeport Businesses Targets of Drive-By "Shootings"
By Julie Perine on August 17, 2015 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
John Belcastro and his employees arrived at Third Millennium Marketing this morning to find that the business had been the target of a drive-by shooting - possibly with a slingshot. Found inside the business establishment was a metal nut, which was fired hard enough to bust the front door. It's not the first time. On Saturday, Aug. 8, a 911 call was placed to report a similar occurrence and Belcastro was summoned at home.
"I was called about 11:30 p.m. last Saturday night and came down," said Belcastro about his West Main Street business located just across the street from Benedum Civic Center.
Discovered after the Aug. 8 shooting was a metal ball bearing, which shattered the front glass door of the business (pictured below). It was subsequently replaced with tempered glass. That kept the glass from busting out and shattering, but it was still destroyed and will have to be replaced again (pictured right).
"The last replacement cost about $1,000," Belcastro said. "I can't keep doing that."
Bridgeport Police Officer G.T. Collins said the Third Millennium incident is not an isolated one. Cooper Law Offices, located on West Main Street, just across the railroad tracks from Third Millennium Marketing, was also hit this weekend. Co-owner Dan 
Cooper said someone fired a metal nut through his front double-pane window and hit the office TV.
Cooper said someone fired a metal nut through his front double-pane window and hit the office TV.
Cooper's wife and business partner Jami Cooper said an similar incident occurred in 2008, but it was relatively minor.
"Nothing broke through the glass," she said. "We think it was a paintball or BB. It just cracked the glass."
But this time is different, she said.
"Not only did it break the window, but it damaged electronics in the office. It's felony-level damage this time," she said.
It is not known if the shootings were drive-by or walk-by incidents and there is no lead on suspects, Collins said. Neither incident resulted in breaking and entering.
"It was destruction of property only," Collins said.
Collins said similar incidents have been reported in the area - such as U.S. Route 50 on the east side of Oliverio's Ristorante - but not within the jurisdiction of Bridgeport Police Department.
If anyone has any information regarding these incidents, please contact Bridgeport Police Department 304-842-8260 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
