Negroes Shoot At Advancing Whites

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31136, 12 August 1966, Page 13

Negroes Shoot At Advancing Whites

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) NEW YORK, August 11. Two white youths were critically wounded by gunfire last night when four Negroes being approached by a group of whites in a white neighbourhood opened fire, police reported.

Officers said the wounded youths told them the Negroes were standing on a corner in Brooklyn’s predominantly white Flatbush section when a group of about 40 whites ran toward them to chase them from the neighbourhood.

Instead of running, police said, the Negroes moved toward the whites and fired several times. Jerry Babick, aged 21, and Peter Guardigo, also aged 21, both of Brooklyn, were wounded. Poor Condition Babick was listed in poor condition at Coney Island Hospital with a head wound, while Guardigo was listed in critical condition with a wound in the abdomen. In Detroit, a Negro youth was shot and wounded, reportedly by whites, and a fire bomb was tossed through a drug store window last night. 15 Arrests Police made 15 arrests before the outbreak. Whites and Negroes were among those arrested on charges including incitement to riot and possession of explosives. The incident occurred in the same area where violence

broke out on Tuesday after police tried to make a routine arrest for loitering. As a result of the incident the 4000-man police force of Detroit was put on 12-hour shifts and all leave cancelled. The shooting victim, Yrone Powers, aged 26, told police he was walking down a street when he heard the squealing of tyres, stopped, looked around and saw three white men in a car.

He said one of them shouted, “Look out, nigger,” and then fired two shots as the car sped away. Mr Powers was described by hospital attendants as in a temporarily serious condition.