Men shot during E. Toledo robbery

1/23/2006

Two men were shot and a young girl was threatened with a gun during an aggravated burglary by two masked men in East Toledo early yesterday, Toledo police said.

Police said Ryan Hart, 25, and Derrick Wheeler, 26, were treated in St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center after each was shot in the leg. A hospital spokesman listed Mr. Hart in fair condition but had no information on Mr. Wheeler.

The victims told police two masked suspects, both armed, stormed through the home at 132 West Florence Ave. about 3:50 a.m. after someone answered a knock. They said the suspects asked for someone named "Steve" and money from a safe.

One of the suspects shot Mr. Hart in the right leg when the victims said Steve didn't live there and there was no safe. Police said Mr. Wheeler was shot in both legs when he emerged from a bathroom.

Authorities said one of the suspects hit Joy Hart, 26, with his hand, then held a 4-year-old girl to the ground, pointed a gun to her head, and again demanded to know where "Steve" and the safe were.

The suspects took $300 from another man at the residence, Charles Hosley, 23, before escaping. The case remained under investigation yesterday.