As students prepared for classes Monday, two near shootings over the weekend preceded the return to their studies.

On Shipman Place, between 7th and 10th Streets, a fight believed to be centered around gang activity was reported in the area Sunday at around 9 p.m. Shots were reported to have been fired in the fight, and shell casings were recovered.

No arrests have been made and the gun has not been recovered.

Lt. Jim Kayes of the DeKalb Police Department said the incident was “definitely gang activity.”

“We know the affiliations, so we are able to draw conclusions about who the offenders might be,” Kayes said.

There were no eyewitnesses in the area, which makes narrowing a suspect down to the actual shooter a challenge, he said.

“Gangs are notorious about not talking to the police,” Kayes said. “Their philosophy is that they can take care of it themselves.”

Also on Sunday at around 1 a.m., police observed a fight in progress in the area of 100 West Lincoln Highway, near Walgreens. As police approached the fight, an individual was observed pulling a pistol from his waistband.

The individual packed a round in the chamber and pointed the pistol in the direction of the people fighting. Police then gave the individual, Jason Davis, 24 of DeKalb, verbal commands to drop the pistol.

Davis attempted to run from the scene, but was apprehended after a foot pursuit. Along with the pistol, about 30 bags of heroin were also recovered from Davis, Kayes said.

The pistol recovered was identified as an Automag, with .30 caliber carbine rounds, used with an M1 Carbine during World War II, Kayes said.

“It is obviously not a good start to the school year,” he said.

Davis was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of heroin under 15 grams, armed violence, resisting a peace officer and obstructing a peace officer, according to police reports.