Man found in vehicle shot 3 times in back

6/18/2013

A Toledo man killed Sunday morning was shot three times, an autopsy performed Monday showed.

Frederick Watson, 20, was sitting in a car at Avondale and Brown avenues when he was shot three times in his back, said Lucas County Deputy Coroner Dr. Diane Scala-Barnett.

It is possible that the victim saw the suspect or suspects coming, ducked, and turned to be hit in the back, officials said.

Dr. Barnett said the bullets entered and exited the body on two of the wounds; one bullet was recovered during the autopsy.

Mr. Watson was found unconscious in a car at 4:55 a.m. while police were investigating a report of a person shot.

He was taken to Toledo Hospital where he died, according to a police incident report.

Another man wounded in the same incident, Tyrone Hoskins, Jr., 22, showed up at the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio, with “several” gunshot wounds to his lower torso.

Information on Mr. Hoskins condition was not available.

No charges have been filed and police have not commented on a motive, but sources indicated the shootings were likely gang related.

Mr. Watson's family has said they did not believe he was in a gang, though he was at least associated with known gang members.

Just before 12:30 Sunday afternoon, someone in a passing red vehicle fired numerous shots in the 1000 block Norwood Avenue, striking another vehicle on the street with at least three rounds fired from a .40-caliber handgun.

Police were told the shooting was retaliation for Mr. Watson's death.

Mr. Watson was “best friends” with Quincy Allen, a known member of a Folks gang, who was recently charged with murder for the death of La'Quan Dunbar, a Bloods gang member.

The motive for Mr. Dunbar's death, police and gang sources said, was because of a diss song made by Bloods, which makes disparaging comments about dead Folks and Crips gang members.

Several other shooting incidents were reported over the weekend.

Eric Boatman, 24, was shot in his buttocks at 4:42 a.m. Saturday at North Detroit and Fernwood avenues, police said.

The victim told police he'd just left a nearby after-hours club when he was “ambushed” by several people and then shot. He was treated at and released from Toledo Hospital.

Just after 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Brian Eberflus was accidentally shot in his right knee by his father, David Eberflus, according to a police report.

Police said the men first reported someone shot the younger Mr. Eberflus while the two were grilling, but later changed the story.

David Eberflus, 49, of 332 Palmer Ave., was charged with discharge of a firearm.

At 10:45 p.m. Saturday, numerous shots were fired at a group of people boarding a party bus in the 1600 block of Palmwood Avenue. No one was injured, but two houses, a tree, car, and fence were struck.

An hour later, Trevon Coleman, 21, was shot at Macomber and Isherwood streets. He was taken to Toledo Hospital in a private vehicle, reportedly shot in his lower left torso.

Police said his injuries were not life threatening.

Contact Taylor Dungjen at: tdungjen@theblade.com, 419-724-6054, or on Twitter @taylordungjen.