toledoblade.com --

Toledo Mayor Carty Finkbeiner said it was "absolutely ludicrous" to suggest Sunday's murder of a South Toledo man could have been prevented if 75 police officers had not been laid off on Friday.

"Violent crimes, shootings, are not ever prevented by the presence of a police officer, no matter how many thousands of police officers you have," Mr. Finkbeiner said.

The mayor, during a press conference announcing this year's model block program, blamed the media for stirring up fear regarding the police layoffs, which were carried out to address a $21.3 million budget deficit.

Mr. Finkbeiner said he was forced to lay off one-sixth of the patrol ranks, in addition to 70 more civilian layoffs scheduled for next week, to help balance the city's general fund budget.

"I wish the murder had never happened, but I know something, this remains one of the safest cities in America," Mr. Finkbeiner said, adding that FBI statistics show crime is down in Toledo.

Richard Soria, of 659 Congress St., suffered multiple gunshot wounds about 12:12 p.m., shortly after returning from church, police said. He was found on the walkway leading to the front porch of his one-story house.

He was taken to St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, where he died a short time later. No one had been arrested in the case as of Monday night.

Mr. Soria's family is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who leads police to the suspect in his murder, said Carlos Hernandez, pastor of Solid Rock Church on Starr Avenue, where Mr. Soria was the head usher.

"At this time the family is concerned with peace and closure," Mr. Hernandez said.

About a dozen of Mr. Soria's relatives joined the clergyman for the announcement in front of the Safety Building Monday.

"We are praying that the persons who committed this crime would turn themselves in," he said.

Mr. Hernandez said Mr. Soria, who owned a concrete business, was active at the church, especially in the Bible study class and in the outreach program that helps people with substance-abuse problems fight their addictions.

"Richard was a great man. He was committed to his church and he loved his family," Mr. Hernandez said. "He was happy [at church] yesterday. Everybody who knows Richard would remember him by his smile."

Robert Lizcano, Mr. Soria's brother-in-law, described him as a "courageous, serious, humble, and godly man who was fun to be around."

"We are all devastated because we can't imagine why [the murder] happened," Mr. Lizcano said, adding that he had no knowledge of Mr. Soria having any enemies. "He'd help anyone in a minute."

Darlene Boyer, Mr. Soria's cousin, said she was shocked that the murder happened in broad daylight.

"It happened when Toledo police officers were being laid off. It's unfortunate, because we need them," she said.

Police were questioning witnesses yesterday but did not release names of any suspects.

Police have issued an arrest warrant in the early Friday fatal shooting of Armond Parker, of North Toledo. DeJuan Booker, 29, whose last known address was 14 Southard Ave. in central Toledo, was charged with murder.

Mr. Parker, 22, died of a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene. Also shot was Markies Turner, 22, of central Toledo, who remains hospitalized.

The Friday shooting occurred about 12:20 a.m. near Mercer Street and Foredale Avenue.

The victims and a gunman were involved in a drug transaction just before the shooting, police said.

The number of police-officer layoffs was cut in half late last week to 75 by Mr. Finkbeiner, but he reserved the right to let more go if Toledo City Council doesn't approve the rest of his strategy to erase the $21.3 million deficit.

Among them: generating $3.2 million from reducing the income tax credit for Toledoans who work outside the city and $1.6 million by increasing the Toledo refuse fee from $7 to $10 for people who do not recycle and from $2 to $7 for those who do.

The city would have had to lay off more than 125 officers to save the $4.8 million that could be collected from the tax credit decrease and an increase to the trash fee.

Staff writer Erica Blake contributed to this report.

Contact Ignazio Messina at:
imessina@theblade.com
or 419-724-6171.

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