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Slightly warmer temperatures, chance of rain expected as the week ends

<p>NANTICOKE &#8212; A 20-year-old man was killed in a shooting early Wednesday morning.</p><p>Sources said the shooting happened at approximately 2 a.m. in the area of 185 West Church St. The victim, identified as Brandon Smith, suffered multiple gunshot wounds, according to officials.</p><p>Smith was taken to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.</p><p>It is believed Smith knew the shooter. However, police have not made any arrests.</p><p>Officials said they believe the shooting was drug-related.</p><p>Officials from the Pennsylvania State Police in Wyoming, the Luzerne County District Attorney&#8217;s Office, and the Nanticoke Police Department are investigating.</p><p>The shooting marks the second in Nanticoke in the past month, and the second homicide in Luzerne County in 2017.</p><p>In December, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/613896/shooting-in-nanticoke-early-thursday-morning-leaves-one-injured" target="_blank">Kenneth Powell was shot</a> when a physical altercation spilled into the street. Powell and his girlfriend, Courtney Padden, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/620237/shooting-victim-girlfriend-arraigned-on-drug-charges" target="_blank">were subsequently charged</a> after investigators allegedly found numerous drugs and drug paraphernalia inside his residence.</p><p>On Jan. 12, Keith Williams was charged with homicide after he allegedly <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/624619/state-police-investigating-death-on-old-tioga-turnpike" target="_blank">shot a man in the chest with a shotgun</a> after a dispute in Fairmount Township.</p><p><strong>A troubled home?</strong></p><p>Residents throughout West Church Street said the house where the homicide occurred has been known as a troubled spot.</p><p>Police were still on the scene at approximately 10:30 a.m. as tape surrounded the residence. At one point, a small dog could be seen peering out from a second-floor window of the residence before scurrying back inside.</p><p>A resident a few houses down from the scene, who declined to be identified, said the residence has been known for &#8220;riff-raff.&#8221;</p><p>Resident Joe Damario also noted the house&#8217;s troublesome history.</p><p>Damario, 36, was awakened by his dogs when police first arrived on the scene. The porch of his residence directly overlooks the residence at 185 West Church St.</p><p>Damario said verbal altercations are commonly heard outside of the residence, and a lot of people tend to come and go without staying long.</p><p>As he looked at the scene hours after the incident, he said he was happy his three children did not have to experience it on their way to school.</p><p>&#8220;I was thankful &#8230; they didn&#8217;t have to walk through that,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Another longtime resident of the street speculated an ongoing drug issue in the city contributed to the shooting. Other neighbors described West Church Street as a quiet street with few problems.</p><p>Damario said that beyond drugs, &#8220;absentee landlords&#8221; who rent residences to anybody without background checks contribute to the violent behavior.</p><p>Damario speculated there was more to the shooting.</p><p>&#8220;I think that had personal written all over it,&#8221; he said.</p><p><strong>Check back with the Times Leader for more information.</strong></p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Police investigate the scene of an early morning homicide in Nanticoke. 1/18/2017 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL011917homicide1-3.jpg</photo0><caption0>Police investigate the scene of an early morning homicide in Nanticoke. 1/18/2017 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL011917homicide2-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">State Police investigate the scene of an early morning homicide in Nanticoke. 1/18/2017 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL011917homicide2-3.jpg</photo1><caption1>State Police investigate the scene of an early morning homicide in Nanticoke. 1/18/2017 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader</caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL011917homicide3-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">State Police investigate the scene of an early morning homicide in Nanticoke. 1/18/2017 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL011917homicide3-3.jpg</photo2><caption2>State Police investigate the scene of an early morning homicide in Nanticoke. 1/18/2017 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader</caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL011917homicide4-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">State Police investigate the scene of an early morning homicide in Nanticoke. 1/18/2017 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_TTL011917homicide4-3.jpg</photo3><caption3>State Police investigate the scene of an early morning homicide in Nanticoke. 1/18/2017 Aimee Dilger|Times Leader</caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Travis Kellar at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @TLNews</p></shirttailMeta></div>

One man killed in early-morning shooting in Nanticoke