Pair's indictments are first under gang law

5/30/2001

Two Toledo men are the first in Lucas County indicted on gang-related charges using a law that went into effect two years ago.

They were indicted in the drive-by shooting of a 16-year-old boy this month.

A county grand jury yesterday indicted Jermaine T. Morgan and Terrance Lamar Pettis for participating in a criminal gang, attempted murder, and felonious assault.

Police think Mr. Pettis, 22, of 2638 Maplewood Ave., fired the shots May 2 that seriously wounded Dennis Scott in a park near young Scott's Highland Avenue home. Mr. Morgan, 20, of 2437 Hollywood Ave., was driving the car, police said.

Police said the shooting was gang related, but did not know whether young Scott was the intended target.

John Weglian, chief of the special units division at the Lucas County prosecutor's office, said it is the first time a gang indictment has been sought in the county since a state law making it possible took effect in 1999.

“There seemed to be a sufficient danger to warrant that type of prosecution,” Mr. Weglian said.

Police said some of those suspected in the shooting are believed to be affiliated with one gang, and some of those who were being shot at allegedly are associated with another gang.

The day before the shooting, a fight broke out between some of the people in the 3300 block of Glenwood Avenue. The shooting may have been a continuation of the fight, police said.

Jermaine Morgan is the brother of Jerome Morgan, a 16-year-old Central Catholic High School student who was fatally shot in the head May 12 in the area of Lawrence Avenue and Ambia Street.

Mr. Weglian said police don't think the cases are related. Police arrested Shelton Hicks, 17, of 921 Ambia St., as a suspect in Jerome Morgan's shooting.