Motive in slaying unclear

Eugene Dunahoo says he went out for an errand Monday night and when he returned his friend Marcos Pecina had been shot. Enlarge

It had only been minutes, but in the time it took Eugene Dunahoo to run a quick errand and get back to his East Toledo apartment, his long-time friend had been fatally shot.

Marcos Pecina, 29, who was shot just after 9 p.m. Monday, was pronounced dead at Mercy St. Charles Hospital at 9:52 p.m., officials said. Dr. Cynthia Beisser, the Lucas County deputy coroner, ruled after an autopsy Tuesday that Pecina died of a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Toledo Blade Homicide Report

When Mr. Dunahoo, 56, returned to the apartment building in the 700 block of Main Street, crime scene tape blocked his entrance and police officers went in and out of the yellow two-story dwelling.

"I didn't know that was going to happen," Mr. Dunahoo said. "I'm just sad about it."

Toledo police Sgt. Tim Noble said no one else was injured in the incident and there was no indication that the shooting was random.

It's also unclear how many people were inside the apartment at the time of the shooting or what the motive might have been, authorities said. This is the 14th homicide in the city of Toledo this year.

Tuesday afternoon a memorial with empty Bud Light bottles and a long line of votive candles lined a walkway near the apartment.

Megan Newcomer and Tim Gwiner, both 24 of Perrysburg, friends of the deceased, said they came to "pay their respects."

They said Pecina had four children -- two boys and two girls -- who range in age from 3 or 4 years old to 11.

The victim married his longtime girlfriend, Christine Lutts, in April, according to public records.

"People don't think about their [the victim's] family. It's reckless," Mr. Gwiner said.

Pecina was convicted in Lucas County Common Pleas Court in 2003 of attempted possession of heroin and was sentenced to one year in prison. While incarcerated, the victim had also been found guilty of dogfighting and was ordered to serve a concurrent six-month sentence, according to court records.

After his release, Pecina in 2005 was found guilty of attempted possession of heroin and was sentenced to eight months in prison.

Despite Pecina's convictions, Mr. Gwiner described the victim as a "really great guy" who liked to go four-wheeling and to take his children to parks.

"It's sad," Mr. Gwiner said. "I mostly feel bad for the kids and his wife. He was a good father. They loved him."