1 dead, 1 arrested in Toledo gunfight

12/1/2006

Carlin Baucom was arraigned on a charge of murder in the shooting death of 34-year-old Donnell Butler, who was pronounced dead on the front porch of 904 Woodstock Ave. about 3:10 p.m. yesterday.

He was ordered to be held in the Lucas County Jail in lieu of a $500,000 bond. His case was continued until Dec. 5 so that he can hire an attorney.

Butler was shot multiple times in his upper body, Toledo police Capt. Ray Carroll said.

Baucom was shot in the arm during the gunfire exchange and was taken by private vehicle to Toledo Hospital. After he was treated, police took Baucom to the Safety Building for questioning. He was later charged with the murder.

Captain Carroll said 911 received a call about 2:55 p.m. about a person shot in the 900 block of Woodstock. Officers found Butler on the porch of 904 Woodstock.

Police think Butler, who is believed to have lived nearby on Woodstock, exchanged gunshots in the street with Baucom, who was near a car.

"We don't know who the aggressor was," Captain Carroll said yesterday before Baucom's arrest.

After Butler collapsed on the front porch at 904 Woodstock, Baucom fled the scene in a car that was later recovered by police in the 1500 block of Upton Avenue. the vehicle was towed by police, who were processing it for evidence.

Baucom arrived at Toledo Hospital a short time after the shooting in a different vehicle, Captain Carroll said.

During the gunfire exchange, a front window at 919 Woodstock was hit by a bullet. No one inside was hurt.

Theresa Anderson, who lives there, said she was watching TV and heard three to four gunshots. "I opened the door and saw a man shooting," she said. "I got my kids in the basement."

Ms. Anderson said Butler is the father of her grandson. She said she didn't know the other man who was shooting. She said one of the children was lying in the room where the bullet went through the window.

"If they were sitting up, they would have got killed," she said.

A 20-year-old neighbor said she saw Butler, whom she did not know, shooting behind him as he ran away before he ended up at 904 Woodstock. "I got away from the window and down on the ground," said the woman, who declined to give her name.

Less than two hours after the incident, officers scoured the yard in front of 906 Woodstock. Those in the house declined comment.

No one answered the door at 904 Woodstock, where a blood stain was still on the front porch after police cleared the scene.

Butler's family declined comment. An autopsy for Butler is scheduled today by the Lucas County coroner's office.

Staff writer Meghan Gilbert contributed to this report.

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