A terrifying night at the Hisle Park Apartments has residents rattled and questioning their safety after a strange man in black was spotted trying to break into multiple units, followed by a report of gunfire just an hour later.
Just before 9 p.m., a woman living at the complex called 911 in a panic, saying a man tried to come in through her window. She told dispatchers she ran to grab a knife to protect herself, but the intruder had vanished by the time she returned.
Moments later, another neighbor called police to report the same suspicious person. According to witnesses, the man — dressed head-to-toe in black — had attempted to lift screens on several windows before fleeing into the nearby woods.
Police arrived quickly and swept the area, but the suspect was nowhere to be found.
🚨 SHOTS FIRED HOURS LATER
Then, at 10 p.m., tension in the complex escalated when another caller reported hearing gunshots. Officers returned to the scene and found a spent shell casing, filing a report and interviewing nearby residents. No injuries were reported.
Around midnight, yet another 911 call came in — this time from a witness who said a man matching the shooter’s description was loitering near the Hospice Center on 25th Street. But by the time police arrived, he had disappeared again.
🏘️ A Place That Should Feel Safe
The Hisle Park Apartments were designed to be a safe, supportive environment for young adults aging out of foster care — a critical population already facing enormous challenges. But for months now, residents have spoken to Scioto County Daily News about frequent drug activity, violence, and unsafe conditions.
One tenant told SCDN, “We came here to get on our feet — but some nights, I’m afraid to sleep.”
🛡️ What You Can Do
If you see suspicious activity in or around your neighborhood:
- Call 911 immediately — Don’t wait until things escalate.
- Secure your windows and doors, especially at night.
- Report any patterns of behavior to your landlord, property manager, or local authorities.
- Talk to your neighbors and consider forming a community watch group.
This string of incidents shows just how quickly one person can shake a whole community’s sense of security. Portsmouth Police continue to investigate the attempted break-ins and gunfire, but the question remains — how many more close calls will it take to restore peace to Hisle Park?
