Man shot in bar last month dies of wound

11/18/2003

A central-city man who was shot in a northwest Toledo bar last month has died from complications from the gunshot wound, authorities said.

Meredith Warren, 24, of 1142 Hamilton St., died about 11:15 p.m. Sunday in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, authorities said.

The preliminary cause of his death is complications from a gunshot wound in his abdomen, Dr. Cynthia Beisser, deputy Lucas County coroner, said after an autopsy yesterday. A final ruling is pending a review of Warren s medical records. She ruled his death a homicide.

Warren was shot about 2:10 a.m. Oct. 18 inside The Other Club bar, 384 Phillips Ave. The shooting occurred after an argument in the bar, Lt. Rick Reed said.

A day after the shooting, police issued a warrant charging a man with felonious assault in the incident. Police are not releasing the name of the suspect, who is in his mid-20s and who is not from Toledo, because they are trying to locate him.

Police were sent to the bar after a witness heard gunshots. A bystander who didn t see the shooting, but heard gunshots said he saw the victim, who had blood on his shirt, get into a vehicle.

A bar patron said the shooting occurred near the pool table, a police report said. The report also indicated Warren was shot in the chest.

One of Warren s five sisters, who declined to be identified, said Warren was out with a couple of friends when a confrontation escalated and he was shot.

His sister didn t know what the confrontation was about, but she s glad police know who was involved.

“[Warren s] one of those guys who didn t deserve to be shot,” she said, adding that her brother was mild and laid back. “Meredith was an excellent guy. Meredith was an excellent father.”

Warren has two daughters, ages 2 and 4. His sister said Warren helped his uncle with painting jobs and enjoyed music, shooting pool, and being a father.

After spending nearly two weeks in the hospital s intensive care unit after the shooting, Warren had improved. He returned to a regular floor in the hospital, but then took a turn for the worse, his sister said.

She said she and her family are grateful for the handful of days they had to spend time with Warren before he died. “Sometimes people don t get the chance to talk to someone they love [before they die],” she said.