2 shot to death in Toledo

Men killed on city’s east, west sides 3 hours apart

2/3/2014

Williams

Two Toledoans were killed by gunfire on city streets Sunday.

The deaths occurred as a result of separate shootings barely three hours apart, one in East Toledo and one in West Toledo.

While authorities said the deaths appear to be unrelated, they also don’t rule out the possibility of a connection.

The first shooting was reported at 1:12 a.m. at Greenwood and Walden avenues in East Toledo.

Michael Macklin, Jr., 20, was shot while in the driver’s seat of his car while he was trying to flee others who may have gotten into an altercation with him at a downtown Toledo drinking establishment, Detective Bob Schroeder said.

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A passenger in Mr. Macklin’s vehicle was not injured.

Detective Schroeder said he was not immediately divulging the passenger’s identity.

Police are seeking information about a silver, General Motors sport utility vehicle that followed Mr. Macklin from Club Ellyzees, 319 N. Superior St.

“From there, they went to the East Side, where everything went wrong,” Detective Schroeder said.

Club Ellyzees, the site of a June shooting and other violence in the past, was forced to close early because of fights that had erupted, the detective said.

It is not known how many people were in the sport utility vehicle that followed Mr. Macklin’s car. But at least one person in it is believed to have gotten out and shot Mr. Macklin, he said.

The detective declined to say how many times or in what part of the body Mr. Macklin was shot.

Mr. Macklin was taken by ambulance to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, where he underwent treatment. He was pronounced dead shortly after 8 a.m., Detective Schroeder said.

Police issued a statement shortly before noon confirming the man had died.

The second shooting was reported at 4:18 a.m., barely three hours later, when police received a call about multiple shots fired in the vicinity of Ottawa Drive and Auburn Avenue in West Toledo.

Officers found Michael Williams, Jr., 24, dead at the scene.

Detective Kermit Quinn, who is investigating that shooting, could not be reached.

Detective Tim Campbell, who issued statements about both shootings, confirmed Mr. Williams had been shot, but declined to say if he had been struck by more than one bullet.

The victim was found between the Auburn Mini Mart and a closed Adams Laundry & Cleaners. The apparent shooting was believed to have occurred in front of a small church.

Detective Campbell did not describe the type of firearm used in either shooting.

He also said he is unsure of the motives behind either shooting, and said he had no information about their backgrounds to divulge.

No arrests were made in either case.

Autopsies on both victims are expected to occur today.

Contact Tom Henry at: thenry@theblade.com or 419-724-6079.