SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — On a day much like any other, a single call sent the city of Scranton into hours of uncertainty and fear, Detective Kyle Gilmartin, was shot in the head on duty and left fighting for his life.
Saturday marks one year since the day that shook Scranton to its core, as Gilmartin of the Scranton Police was critically wounded in the line of duty.
"It was a call you never want to hear, but unfortunately, we heard it that day and we kicked into high gear," said Chief Tom Carroll, Scranton Police Department.
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"It was so awful, and obviously those first hours of not knowing were horrendous," said Mayor Paige Cognetti (D), Scranton.
Miraculously, Detective Gilmartin is making a recovery that can only be described as remarkable.
"I really am shocked by how fast and how far he's come in this short period of time, he is on the mend he obviously still has some challenges which he will overcome it's just a matter of time, but if anybody can do that, it's going to be Kyle Gilmartin," said Carroll.
The Scranton community rallying behind him every step of the way.
"The experience through the weeks and months of Kyle being in the hospital, coming home, those were moments that showed what this community is all about," said Cognetti.
The shooting led to the arrest of Jeremiah Cleveland for gang-related gunfire in the neighborhood that Gilmartin was investigating that morning.
The arrest of Gilmartin's shooter, Aidan Deininger who had a preliminary hearing in June and is awaiting trial on various charges including the attempted murder of Gilmartin.
"Justice will be served," said Carroll.
Since the shooting, Scranton's Police force has grown stronger. They have enhanced their training programs and efforts to curb the surge in gang activity and violence that followed the incident.
"The department is tight, it was tight before that but after, I see that we are more focused, we're more united in our efforts. For the first time are we looking deep into a crime prevention strategy, a violence prevention strategy, and working the GVI effort," said Carroll.
GVI, known as a group violence intervention program, is underway in Scranton.
"We continue to do work and that's where, especially this group violence intervention work, where the city and county are partnering to fund the exploration of what a group violence intervention would look like. We're excited to continue that work so that those root causes are addressed in better ways as we move forward," said Cognetti.
Chief Carroll says Gilmartin is doing amazing in recovery, and his fortitude is the department's fortitude, pushing them to keep growing, learning, and refining their efforts.
