PORT ARTHUR, Texas — Port Arthur experienced a violent Easter weekend and now police are investigating two shootings.
On Easter morning, a woman was shot in her home along the 1000 block of 4th Street. Later that evening another woman was shot by a man at the Avery Trace apartments.
According to Port Arthur Police, the first shooting on 4th Street started with an argument on social media. They're attributing a mixture of alcohol and guns which led to the Avery Trace shooting.
Thankfully no one was killed, but police say there's some lessons to learn from the incidents. The first is to not let problems spill over from social media.
"Well we are looking for a couple of suspects that actually went to this location," said Port Arthur Police Chief Timothy Duriso.
PAPD say a group of people arrived at a woman's home, after an argument on social media.
"If you see something on social media ignore it. Don't try to act on everything that you see. Because people are gonna get on social media and once they get behind that keyboard, I call [these] people keyboard gangsters," Duriso said.
That's when a fight broke out, shots were fired and a woman was hit.
"Somewhere in the lower portion of her body she was hit, and she was transported to the hospital and later released after treatment," said Duriso.
Police are still looking for at least two men in connection with the shooting.
The second lesson from PAPD is to not mix alcohol with weapons.
Hours after the first shooting, police responded to the second, where another woman was shot.
"Easter Sunday about 5:00 we were dispatched to Avery Trace apartments in reference to a shooting," Duriso told 12News.
PAPD tell 12News a group of people were hanging out and drinking, when an argument started.
"Someone decided they wanted to pull a weapon and started shooting. Endangering other people that actually live in that complex," said Duriso. "Weapons and alcohol do not go together. They should never be together and yesterday is a perfect example of that."
Police are still looking for the shooter and they have extra resources to help.
"Not having to make a bunch of calls over there," Duriso said.
The new management at Avery Trace recently installed 100 surveillance cameras, and a license plate reader, to help deter crime.
"People are well aware of all the cameras that are watching them now," said Duriso.
Police and one resident who wished to not be identified say it seems to be working.
"Well it was worse back then. Before this. Because when we first moved here there was a lot of shootings down here. But it's kind of like calmed down," the resident told 12News.
Both women had non-life threatening injuries and are expected to recover.
PAPD asks that if anyone knows anything about these shootings, to contact them.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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