A Scranton man arrested earlier this month for a shooting in the city faces additional charges for altering two firearms, police said.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Lackawanna County district attorney’s office, and investigators from the Scranton Police Department, responded to the 1200 block of Washburn Street in the city April 14 to take Khalid Jones into custody on an active felony arrest warrant. They seized two gold chains with distinct gold pendants. Investigators had seen Jones wearing them on surveillance video the night of the shooting outside Solstice Bar in the 100 block of West Market Street, according to a criminal complaint.
While investigating the incident, police found multiple vehicles damaged by bullets and multiple spent casings, officers said.
Jones (Courtesy Scranton Police Department)
After a search warrant was approved, investigators found two “ghost guns” — described by police as handguns with no serial numbers or identifying markings — and clothing worn by Jones during the shooting, according to the criminal complaint. They also found multiple boxes of ammunition.
Investigators showed Jones photographs of him inside Solstice, outside Solstice with a handgun, and walking west on West Market Street on the night of the shooting, police said.
Jones admitted owning the firearms and being at Solstice that night, but wouldn’t confirm or deny committing the shooting, investigators said.
Police charged Jones, 32, with two counts of possessing a firearm with an altered serial number and two counts of altering or obliterating marks of identification.
Jones was previously charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, firearms carried without a license, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.
As of Monday, Jones remained in custody at Lackawanna County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 15 at 9 a.m.