Shooting in central city injures 3, kills 1; police believe crime is gang related

5/25/2014

BY TOM TROY AND ALEXANDRA MESTER
BLADE STAFF WRITERS

The scene of a shooting in the 2100 block of Joffre Avenue.

Four people were shot late this afternoon - one fatally - in what Toledo police described as a gang-related shooting in the 2100 block of Joffre Avenue.

Police said a multiple, yet unknown number of armed assailants arrived on foot and started shooting into a crowd of people gathered outside one of the houses in that central city neighborhood, which is east of Upton Avenue near Bancroft Street. The incident occurred about 3:10 p.m.

PHOTO GALLERY: Click here to view photos from the scene

The deceased was identified tonight by police as Sheymarr R. Noble, 22. He was pronounced dead at the hospital, where he had arrived by unknown means, about 3:45 p.m., police said.

Police said the incident began as a fight before erupting into gunfire.

The other three victims were identified by police as Emerson D. Ware Jr., 26, who was undergoing surgery at Toledo Hospital for at least one gunshot wound; Terrelle D. Russell, 27, who was being treated at Toledo Hospital for a gunshot wound to his hand, and Davon Ballard, 27, who was being treated at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center for a gunshot wound to his leg. The latter arrived on his own about an hour after the incident.

One woman in a nearby house said she looked out a window when she heard the first shot.

Authorities look into 2143 Joffre Avenue where a G.G.C. (or Geer Gang Crip) tag is located on the side of the house.

She would not give her name.

"I [saw] a young dude with a gun shooting into a crowd of people and he started running," she told The Blade. "He shot a lot of times. He emptied that gun."

Authorities believe some witnesses know more than they have revealed so far, but are afraid to talk.

"Everyone's reluctant to talk for fear of retaliation," Lt. Frank Ramirez said.

Police believe at least 10 shots were fired. That's the number of shell casings that have been recovered so far, Lieutenant Ramirez said.

The police department has had its detective bureau and members of its gang unit on the scene.

Contact Alexandra Mester: amester@theblade.com, 419-724-6066, or on Twitter @AlexMesterBlade.

Contact Tom Troy: tomtroy@theblade.com or 419--724-6058 or an Twitter @TomFTroy.