Suspect sought after man shot in S. Toledo

7/12/2012

Toledo police are looking for the person or persons responsible for shooting a male in the South End on Wednesday afternoon.

Anthony Ballard, 20, of Toledo was taken to the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio, after being shot in the upper left thigh about 3:50 p.m., police said.

The victim was reportedly shot after neighbors heard at least two people arguing and then gunfire -- five to eight shots -- erupted.

The victim was found lying next to a house in the 1400 block of Prouty Avenue, near Spencer Street.

Police said witnesses gave conflicting suspect and vehicle descriptions. No further information was available, nor was there any report of arrests.

Robin Rife III, 12, said he was on his way to a friend's house when he heard what he thought were fireworks.

He kept walking and then reportedly saw the victim lying on his side and realized he'd been shot.

"I saw him get shot right in front of me," the boy, a sixth-grade student at Walbridge Elementary School, said. "I heard 'boom, boom.' "

The young Rife's grandmother, Diane Greener, 61, wears a silicone "peace" bracelet on her wrist. She wishes the message would catch on.

"I want to know what we have to do to stop this horrible violence," Ms. Greener said.

She added that she's lived in the 1300 block of Colburn Street for more than 20 years and has watched her once-quiet South Toledo neighborhood become "way worse."

Just weeks ago, Dustin Matney, 24, was shot multiple times just down the street in front of a house in the 1200 block of Colburn.

"It's just crazy," she said. "Brothers killing brothers and for what?"