Toledo homicide victim identified

10/8/2006

Police identified Toledo's latest murder victim yesterday - marking the 25th slaying this year in the city.

Johnny Worlds, 33, of 638 Palmwood Ave., died after being shot once in each leg Friday night.

Mr. Worlds was taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, Toledo, where he was pronounced dead at 9:10 p.m., about 30 minutes after police found him in front of 1358 West Woodruff Ave. near North Detroit Avenue.

Lucas County Deputy Coroner Dr. Cynthia Beisser performed an autopsy yesterday. She said Mr. Worlds had gunshot wounds in each thigh.

When Mr. Worlds was found by Toledo police, he had no identification.

Officials with the police department's detective bureau said yesterday they knew nothing else about the victim.

Toledo Police Chief Mike Navarre said there were no suspects in the killing but that officers were "looking for potential witnesses."

Mr. Worlds' uncle, Roger Worlds, said his family was in shock yesterday over the news.

He described his nephew as a "calm, compassionate, and loving man."

The two worked together doing home improvement jobs throughout the city, the older Mr. Worlds said.

He said his nephew is survived by a 7-year-old daughter.

Toledo has had 25 homicides so far this year. Last year, there were 30 homicides. During the last 30 years, the city's homicide peak was 60 in 1980; the lowest number of homicides was 15 in 2000.