Drive-By Gunshots Came Amid Feud, Witness Testifies
The Patriot News
July 28, 2007
By Matt Miller
of The Patriot News
Two Carlisle men who police said engaged in a gunfire-laced feud over a woman met yesterday in a Cumberland County courtroom.
Asmara Vasser testified that Anthony Hodge, 22, fired shots into the air as Vasser drove past him in the 100 block of West North Street about 11 p.m. July 16.
Police said one shot struck bystander Trakia Houdeshell, 27, in the head as she sat on her front porch a block away. Houdeshell is recovering from her injury.
“I thought he was shooting at the stars, like a little punk,” Vasser said in agitated, sometimes profane testimony during Hodge’s preliminary hearing on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief. “All I saw was sparks.”
District Judge Jessica Brewbaker ordered Hodge to be tried in county court and reduced his bail from $2 million to $500,000. He remained in the county jail last night.
Borough police arrested Hodge after a four-day investigation of Houdeshell’s wounding in northwest Carlisle.
Concern over the alleged Hodge-Vasser feud prompted authorities to hold yesterday’s hearing in the county’s main courtroom, where police and sheriff’s deputies stood guard. Few spectators, mostly Hodge’s family, attended; and all heeded Brewbaker’s warning against outbursts.
Hodge, handcuffed and in a green jail uniform, sat impassively as Vasser, 30, testified.
Questioned by Chief Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Birbeck, Vasser identified Hodge as the shooter. He admitted he told that to police only after they had searched his house, days after the shooting.
Vasser said Hodge had harassed him for months over a former girlfriend of Hodge’s whom Vasser had “messed with.”
Hodge didn’t testify, but defense attorney Justin McShane tore into Vasser.
“Let’s be blunt with one another. You are a drug dealer?” McShane asked.
Vasser denied dealing drugs but admitted serving prison time for a drug conviction seven years ago.
“Do you know what cocaine looks like?” McShane continued.
“What does cocaine have to do with somebody shooting at me?” Vasser said.
Vasser said a pistol is registered to him, but “everybody knows I don’t use guns.”
“You’re not a violent person?” McShane asked.
“Never been,” Vasser said.
“I never pulled a gun on [Hodge], ever,” Vasser said. “I didn’t do nothing wrong in this situation.”
Detective Jeffrey Kurtz testified Hodge went to police the day after the shooting and said he had been caught in a crossfire involving Vasser and an unnamed man.
“Hodge told you, ‘I have nothing to do with this’” shooting? McShane said.
“That’s correct,” Kurtz said.
The detective said 20 to 30 people, including children, were in the area when the shots were fired.
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