http://www.rrstar.com/communities/x2113785009/Machesney-man-on-motorcycle-struck-by-gunfireOne block from my office....

One rider hurt in 2 North Alpine shootings
Police call the firing at motorcyclists random violence.
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By Chris Green
RRSTAR.COM
Posted Jun 25, 2008 @ 08:10 AM
Last update Jun 25, 2008 @ 09:41 PM
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ROCKFORD — Police are calling shots fired late Tuesday night at two motorcyclists riding in northeast Rockford random acts of violence.
Within a span of 30 minutes, two cyclists, one of whom was shot in the head, were fired upon in the area of North Alpine and Spring Creek roads and North Alpine and Brookview roads.
Police are not releasing the victims’ names and would not say what if any evidence has been recovered.
“There’s nothing to indicate they were targeted,” Chief Chet Epperson said.
Police initially learned of the first shooting when OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center doctors reported they were treating a 21-year-old shooting victim.
The motorcyclist told police he was shot shortly before midnight while riding north on North Alpine Road near Spring Creek Road. The man was admitted to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Upon hearing media reports of the shooting, a second motorcyclist, also 21 years old, informed police he too was shot about a half-hour earlier — at 11:30 p.m. — while waiting at a stop sign at Brookview and Alpine roads. The intersection is a small pocket of unincorporated Winnebago County surrounded by the city. Because the incident occurred near the city limits, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department detectives and Rockford police detectives are conducting a joint investigation.
“He realized his gas tank was hit, but he did not know where the shot came from,” said Winnebago County Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro.
The motorcyclist was not injured.
Anyone with information regarding either shooting is asked to call Rockford police at 815-987-5824 or the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department at 815-319-6311.
Staff writer Chris Green can be reached at 815-987-1241 or cgreen@rrstar.com.