Police: Shots fired after Ashland pawn shop break-in

Ashland police say gunfire erupted after a man tried to break into a pawn shop and a neighbor fired a gun at him.

The Ashland Police Department said Caleb Charles LaBarbera, 19, shattered windows and forcibly entered the Trading Post on East Broadway at about 12:45 a.m. Monday.

Cody McCracken, who lives near the pawn shop, said he heard the glass break and saw LaBarbera breaking into the shop.He said the shop is owned by his landlord.

According to a press release, a neighbor attempted to stop the burglary, fired a warning shot into the air and shot at the vehicle as the suspect fled the scene. Police said the vehicle was struck twice.

“I ran over there and stood behind the car,” McCracken said. “Of course, I had my pistol on me.”

The neighbor accidentally shot himself in the foot and was taken to the hospital, the release said.

“It bounced off his rim, then bounced off the ground and hit me in the foot,” McCracken said. “It didn’t even go in just bruised me.”

LaBarbera crashed into another vehicle parked in the parking lot, leaving a person in the car with minor injuries, Ashland police said.

The department said an officer heard gunfire and saw the suspect vehicle driving recklessly onto westbound East Broadway and the officer arrested LaBarbera after he nearly crashed. LaBarbera wasn’t armed or injured, police said.

Prosecutors charged LaBarbera on Monday with second-degree burglary.

The Ashland Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are possible.