Vermaas Avenue man shot as he opens door

1/9/2013

A Vermaas Avenue man was shot three times yesterday by a man who knocked on his door and then opened fire with an automatic pistol, Toledo police said.

Otis Byrd, 33, was in stable condition last night at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, where he underwent surgery after the 6:30 p.m. shooting in the 3900 block of Vermaas.

Mr. Byrd told police he closed the door when his assailant began firing. He described the gunman as black and 25 to 30 years old wearing a blue coat with yellow stripes. The guman fled on foot toward Sylvania Avenue.