Smithfield teen charged in Wal-Mart shootout (with video)
The pickup truck driven by Joshua Eastman, parked in the lot at the East Stroudsburg Wal-Mart on Thursday, has bullet holes in the door and a shot-out window. Eastman, a shopper at Wal-Mart, returned fire and wounded Reneau Jean Jacques, who is accused of trying to rob Eastman early Thursday morning.David Kidwell/Pocono Record
By Andrew Scott
Pocono Record Writer
August 29, 2008
EAST STROUDSBURG — Reneau Jean Jacques is one reason why some people carry guns to protect themselves.
That's according to police, who say the 17-year-old Smithfield Township teen tried to rob a man at gunpoint as the man loaded groceries into his car early Thursday morning in the East Stroudsburg Wal-Mart parking lot.
Jacques started firing at Joshua Eastman, 28, of East Stroudsburg, who fired back with his own handgun, hitting Jacques in the leg, police said. Eastman was cut in the face when a bullet from Jacques' handgun shattered the door window of Eastman's pickup truck.
After the shootout, police found Jacques hiding in bushes a short distance from the scene. He was read his Miranda rights and taken to Pocono Medical Center for treatment, police said.
On Thursday afternoon, Jacques, using crutches and wearing a hospital gown over hospital pants, sat with a numb look on his face during his preliminary arraignment before East Stroudsburg Magisterial District Judge Michael Muth.
Jacques, a Shawnee Academy student with a prior juvenile record, spoke in a subdued tone when addressed by the judge.
Jacques is charged as an adult with attempted murder, robbery, aggravated assault, crimes committed with guns and illegal possession of a gun, all felonies, and reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor. He hung his head and sighed after the judge told him he could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge, attempted murder.
When questioned about his background, Jacques told the judge he has lived with his parents for the past five years on Symphony Circle in Smithfield Township and that he doesn't have a job when not in school. He said he has no other family in the area.
Jacques' parents were not present during his preliminary arraignment.
"He was given a chance to make a phone call and didn't do so," Stroud Area Regional Police Capt. William Parrish said after the arraignment. "I don't know what the relationship at home is like."
The judge ordered Jacques placed in Monroe County Correctional Facility in lieu of $100,000 secured bail.
"You're facing a significant amount of jail time if convicted on any of the felony charges, which in my opinion gives you an incentive to leave the area if I were to release you from custody on an 'unsecured' bail status, so I consider you a flight risk," Muth told him. "Detaining you in the county jail, by setting your bail at a 'secured' status, guarantees you'll show up for future court proceedings."
As he was led from the courthouse, Jacques rolled his eyes and remained silent when questioned by reporters.
A police affidavit gives the following account of the incident:
Eastman was in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart at 12:45 a.m. Thursday loading groceries into his vehicle when a male wearing a bandana over his face approached him, pointed a handgun at him and demanded that Eastman hand over his money. Eastman looked around for help or someone to yell to.
The suspect continued to demand money. Eastman replied that he did not have any money, that he had used a debit card to pay for his purchases. The suspect became more threatening, pointing the gun and using a more menacing tone of voice.
As Eastman took out his wallet, he pushed the door of his vehicle open wider, putting the door between himself and the suspect, who then pointed his gun at Eastman's face.
Eastman dropped his wallet and started to duck down. The suspect fired a shot that went through the window of the door, almost striking Eastman and causing flying glass from the window to cut Eastman's face.
Eastman pulled out a handgun he was carrying as he fell to the ground. He returned fire under the truck's door with his weapon while the suspect continued to fire at him.
Eastman shot the suspect three times in the lower leg and foot, then ran back toward the store as the suspect fled toward Friendly's Restaurant and into a landscaped island of bushes and trees in the parking lot.
Police were on the scene almost immediately and found the suspect, later identified as Jacques, trying to bury a handgun in the mulch. He initially claimed to be a victim.
Police detained two other youths for questioning. They were in a car, trying to flee the scene, according to witnesses and police.
"We released those two from custody and will charge them if we learn they were involved," Parrish later said.
The tentative date for Jacques' preliminary hearing is Tuesday, Sept. 2, before Muth, at which point his case likely will be continued.
Police said Eastman has a permit to carry a concealed weapon and will not be charged with any wrongdoing. Multiple attempts by the Pocono Record to contact Eastman failed.
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/NEWS/808290340/-1/NEWSLETTER100
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