Suspect in fatal shooting says he'll turn himself in if video released

Tyrone Hoskins, Jr.

Still missing in action and still wanted by police, Tyrone Hoskins, Jr., seems ready to make a deal for his surrender.

Posted on a Facebook page belonging to the 23-year-old Toledo man -- one of two charged with murdered in the shooting death of Michael Williams, Jr. -- is the suggestion that, if police release to the media the video surveillance from the night of the shooting, he will turn himself in.

“Show the tape like yall did at the route 66 … den I turn maself n,” was part of a status update on Facebook made Monday just after 11 a.m.

Minutes later, “(?) Y hide the truth from the media and the public an try 2 make dem judge a book by the cover yall persenting #btw we innocent,” was posted.

Police declined to release the video today, citing the ongoing investigation. 

A man who claimed to be Mr. Hoskins called a Blade reporter from a blocked phone number Thursday evening and left a voice message.

The caller asked The Blade to show the surveillance video taken from the after-hours club in the 1500 block of Ottawa Drive where the shooting happened early in the morning hours of Feb. 2.

The man also claims Michael Williams, Jr., 24, of Toledo, was firing shots on Feb. 2.

Michael Williams was shot twice – once in a leg and once in the head, according to an autopsy performed by the Lucas County Coroner's Office.

After The Blade published a story about Mr. Hoskins' co-defendant, Rishad Williams, 21, posting about his innocence on Facebook, at least a dozen people called the newsroom claiming to be witnesses. All but one declined to give their names or phone numbers.

Rishad Williams turned himself in to police Monday and was arraigned today in Toledo Municipal Court.

He was ordered to remain in the Lucas County jail in lieu of $1 million bond.

A caller to The Blade on Monday, who claimed to be calling at the behest of Rishad Williams, asked a reporter to “be fair” in reporting and to, again, release surveillance video.

Police ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 419-255-1111. Mr. Hoskins is a black male who is described as 5 feet, 7 inches, 250 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.