Aspiring artist's death is 20th Toledo homicide this year
10/25/2010The aspiring artist had dropped out of high school but later earned his GED.
He had just made a fresh start as a college student this fall, his grandparents said.
But Saturday, the Owens Community College freshman and father of a 3-year-old became Toledo's 20th homicide victim.
Deandre Green, 21, died six days after being shot as he was getting into his car in West Toledo.
"It's tragic," said his grandfather Leo Tate, Jr. "I've never thought tragedy would ever come this close to home. We're going to do all we can to continue helping raise his daughter like we did him."
The daughter, De'Asia Green, lives with her mother in Toledo. The parents were not married, said LaSonia Tate, the victim's grandmother. "He was a good kid. He grew up with us," Mrs. Tate said. "And he loved his daughter."
Toledo police have not arrested anyone and don't have a motive for the Oct. 17 shooting, which occurred in the 300 block of Phillips Avenue, police said.
"We've got a couple of leads and a couple of people we are looking for," said Sgt. Tim Noble.
"But if anybody was there that night or knows anything, we would like to talk to them."
The victim was shot in the chest and thigh and was admitted in critical condition to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center. He survived for six days but was pronounced dead about 4 p.m. Saturday.
An autopsy is scheduled for today, according to Dr. James Patrick, Lucas County coroner.
The victim's grandparents teared up Sunday as they waited at their North Toledo house for Nevetta Bates, their daughter and the mother of the victim, to arrive to help make funeral arrangements.
The victim lived at his grandparents' house in the 400 block of Spring Street. He attended Scott High School until dropping out in 2007. Two years later, he got his GED, and then started attending Owens, they said.
Mrs. Tate said her grandson was an excellent artist who drew tattoo designs for his friends as a hobby when he was not busy with homework. He planned to study business and computer technology at Owens, she said.
Also surviving are the victim's brothers, Donte Smith, 17, and Derrick Green, Jr., 19, both of Toledo, Mr. Tate said. Funeral arrangements were pending.
Contact Mike Sigov at:
sigov@theblade.com
or 417-724-6089.