Two shot in alleged robbery attempt

By TOM KANE

WELCOME LAKE, PA — Two young men who allegedly broke into the White Owl Tavern in Welcome Lake on January 6 were shot by one of the owners, Conrad Barnes.

There was also a report of shots being fired in the vicinity of the tavern, police said.

Barnes and his co-owner, wife Judy, had retired and heard noises in the bar. Conrad went down and shot at the intruders who escaped.

The White Owl is on State Road 1003.

“During the course of the investigation, it was discovered that two individuals were admitted to Wayne Memorial Hospital with gunshot wounds,” said Julie Derwin, police communications operator at the Blooming Grove state police barracks.

The youths were not taken to the hospital by police.

According to police, the hospitalized youths are Michael Caracciollo, 21, and Joshua Wyckoff, 24. Police could not say where the young men lived and hospital officials said that they could not reveal that information.

Hospital authorities said Wyckoff’s condition was stable, but Caracciollo’s condition was critical.

Police are investigating if the two reported incidents are related.

Barnes declined to be interviewed.