Friends mourn man killed in East Toledo

This sign was posted yesterday near Idaho and White streets, where Kenneth Kimble was fatally shot Friday evening. A neighbor said a few people exchanged punches before the shooting.

Jeremy Wadsworth / The Blade
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Bianca Salinas, 14, with her father, John, places a rose on an informal memorial to her friend Kenneth Kimble near the corner of Idaho and White streets in East Toledo.

With her father by her side, Bianca Salinas yesterday placed a red rose on a makeshift memorial in the grass near the corner of Idaho and White streets in East Toledo, where a 19-year-old man was fatally shot Friday night.

Kenneth Kimble, of 721 Raymer Blvd., who his family and friends knew as Kenny, was shot once in the torso and died shortly after arriving at St. Charles Mercy Hospital. The bullet pierced his heart, Dr. Maneesha Pandey, a Lucas County deputy coroner, said.

"I don't know why this had to happen," said John Salinas, who often played basketball with Mr. Kimble and his younger brother Shannon. They were friends of his daughter.

"I am totally lost and confused. It hasn't sunk in yet."

The shooting occurred just outside the St. Thomas Aquinas Church Festival about 10:10 p.m. after Mr. Kimble and another man apparently began fighting, police said.

Mr. Kimble lived about a block from where he was shot.

Mr. Salinas said he had spoken with Mr. Kimble earlier in the night at the festival.

Tyler Kimble, 14, holding a nephew, says his brother Kenneth dreamed of playing basketball professionally.

Toledo police Detective Bob Schroeder said there are varying accounts of what occurred before the shooting.

Several witnesses have reported that there were about five or six black males on one side of the street and about a dozen Hispanic males on the other.

"Some witnesses have said it was gang-related," the detective said, stressing he could not make that conclusion at this point.

Detective Schroeder said the street was "wall to wall" with people when the shooting occurred, sending people running and screaming in panic.

"It was mayhem," he said.

No one has been arrested in connection with the shooting.

Tyler Kimble said his older brother, who played basketball at Waite High School, had aspirations of playing professionally.

He idolized Yao Ming, a center for the Houston Rockets who averages 22 points a game.

This sign was posted yesterday near Idaho and White streets, where Kenneth Kimble was fatally shot Friday evening. A neighbor said a few people exchanged punches before the shooting.

At 6 feet, 2 inches tall, Mr. Kimble stood about a foot-and-a-half shorter than his favorite player.

But Tyler said that didn't keep his brother from dunking the ball.

"He had a good dunker," Tyler said.

Sharon Collins lives on Idaho, a few houses from where the shooting occurred.

She was on her porch with a neighbor Friday night when she saw a large crowd of people approach the corner of Idaho and White.

Ms. Collins said a few people exchanged punches, and then most of the people took off running.

While on her way to alert police of the fight, Ms. Collins said she heard a gunshot.

She turned around to see the victim fall to the ground.

A news release from the St. Thomas Aquinas Festival announced that, beginning last night, children under the age of 18 would not be allowed on the festival grounds after 8 p.m. unless they were accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The release states that the tragedy that occurred near the festival Friday night "deeply concerns and saddens us."

It goes on to say that providing a safe environment for all those in attendance has always been, and remains, a primary objective for the festival. The festival continues today.

Contact Laren Weber at:

lweber@theblade.com

or 419-724-6050.