Message to New Jersey Criminals

Don’t mess with Pennsylvanians, ’cause we’ll shoot you:

While being told to be quiet and cooperate, he was dragged across the street in the darkness and told he was going to be shot. But in an instant, the hunted became the hunter.

Pierce, who carries a handgun for protection, pulled out a .357 revolver and shot Maurice Cook of Easton, who had thrust a .45 handgun into Pierce’s back and the side of his head.

Cook, 22, who was shot in the abdomen, was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital-Fountain Hill, where he underwent surgery and was expected to survive, police said.

He and the other mugging suspect, Tyrone Wright, 22, of Newark, N.J., were charged Wednesday with robbery, aggravated assault and conspiracy. Wright told a district judge he was recently freed from a New Jersey prison, where he had been held on a drug charge.

In a sharp contrast to what the reaction would be in Philadelphia, here’s what the Northampton County DA had to say:

Morganelli said he supports laws that allow people to carry concealed weapons and hopes this latest shooting in the West Ward, the second in less than a week, sends a message to ”these young thugs” that their victims might fight back.

Not so easy pickings on this side of the river, eh?   Thanks to Clayton for the pointer.