Police seek man for questioning in boy's shooting

Johnson: Police say he was in the parking lot of Mr. J's.

Toledo police are looking for a man wanted on warrants for a shooting at a central Toledo bar Nov. 16 and whom they want to question about the accidental shooting of a 7-year-old central Toledo boy two days later.

Arrest warrants were filed Nov. 20 for Tyrone Johnson, 22, whose last known address is 3529 East Manhattan Blvd., for having a handgun inside Hughley's bar, 902 Locust St., during an argument and then firing three shots at the building about 12:15 a.m. Nov. 16, authorities said.

Two days later, police said, Mr. Johnson was in the parking lot of Mr. J's nightclub, 1941 North Detroit Ave., when a fight broke out and a shot was fired about 1:50 a.m. A bullet went through the wall of a house at 1238 Prospect St., striking David Pope, 7, who was sleeping on a mattress in the dining room.

The bullet went through the boy's back, collapsing a lung. He is being treated at Toledo Children's Hospital, which is within Toledo Hospital. Officials have declined to release his condition at the family's request.

Mr. Johnson “was leaving the scene of Mr. J's [in a car] with his lights off and when a unit tried to stop him, he led them on a short pursuit and was apprehended after he crashed at Oakwood and Smead [avenues],” police Detective Vince Mauro said.

Mr. Johnson was arrested for fleeing from police. He was later released.

Last week, the city closed Mr. J's, alleging it has building violations and is a public nuisance.

A $6,000 reward is being offered for information about the boy's shooting. Anyone with information on Mr. Johnson's whereabouts is asked to call the Crime Stopper program at 255-1111.