(The following story by Bob Darden appeared on the Greenwood Commonwealth website on July 14.)
GREENWOOD, Miss. — Greenwood Police are investigating an early morning incident today where a Canadian National/Illinois Central Railroad locomotive was shot at and struck twice.
The locomotive, number C7009-12, was being driven by engineer P.L. Elliott this morning around 1:47 a.m., when the front window was shot out by two bullets, according to the Police Department’s incident report.
Elliott was not wounded in the shooting.
The incident took place between Ray Street and Carrollton Avenue, according to the report.
Elliott told the officers that when the second bullet struck the window the safety glass shattered completely.
According to the report’s narrative, which is a description of the incident by the investigating officer, the engineer couldn’t see who was firing at the train since it was dark.
Shooting at a train is punishable under state law by up to five years in prison and/or a $250 fine.
Additional information on the incident was not available from the Greenwood Police Department this morning.