A significant police response was observed along Beaver Dam Road near the Venice Ashby and Bristol Terrace neighborhoods on Tuesday afternoon.
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According to LevittownNow.com readers who live in the area, at least a dozen police vehicles from Bristol Township and Bristol Borough converged on the neighborhoods around 2:15 p.m. Armed officers were seen conducting searches near a homeless encampment.
Sources indicated that the initial police response was for reports of a shooting. Shortly after, firefighters were called to put out a small fire that had started in the area.
Police Lt. Sean Cosgrove confirmed that officers were initially called to the area following a reported shooting near a homeless encampment. However, after an extensive search, no shooter or gunshot wound victims were found.
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“There were witnesses who reported hearing it,” he said of the gunfire.
During the search, officers discovered a tent that was ablaze and crews responded to extinguish the flames.
The firefighters staged near the scene until they received a police escort due to the developing situation.
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One man was arrested at the scene, but he was nabbed on a warrant and not on charges related a shooting, police said.
The investigation into the shooting reports was ongoing as of 3:30 p.m., Cosgrove said.
Most of the police and fire units had left the area by 3:30 p.m., a bystander said.
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The homeless encampment near the location of the police activity has been a point of concern for local residents, who have recently complained to township officials about safety issues, including a previous shooting.
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