Bartender, off-duty police officer among 3 killed in overnight shooting at downtown Fremont bar

Fremont police and the Crime Scene Unit of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation are investigating the scene at Last Call Bar.

FREMONT -- Fremont police are searching for a gunman who opened fire inside of a downtown bar overnight, killing three people and sending a fourth to the hospital.

It happened around 1:30 a.m. today at the Last Call Bar, 531 W. State St., in Fremont.

The three killed in the shooting include Ramiro Sanchez, 28, a bartender at Last Call; Officer Jose Andy Chavez, 26, an off-duty Elmore police officer; and 25-year-old Daniel Ramirez, a patron of the bar.

Detectives say the fourth victim, 25-year-old Ramiro Arreola, was air-lifted to a Toledo hospital. While his condition is unknown, Mr. Arreola's mother said her son was expected to survive.

The two deceased victims -- Mr. Ramirez and Officer Chavez -- and also the man who survived, Mr. Arreola, are related and were celebrating Chavez's March 2 birthday.

Family members of the related victims were questioned by Fremont Police this morning.

PHOTO GALLERY: 3 dead in Fremont shooting

The wife of Mr. Ramirez, whose name was not provided, was in the bar at the time of the shooting. She told The Blade that she was punched in the face before the shooting began.

Fremont Police Chief Timothy Wiersma said the suspect was in the bar for some time before the shooting.

"There may have been an altercation that precipitated this," Chief Wiersma said. "Things got way out of hand."

Police have surveillance footage from inside and outside the bar, the chief said.

Chief Wiersma said the off-duty police officer was a patron of the bar and not working security.

"We are reviewing video and will have it enhanced," the chief said.

Neighbors described hearing gunshots and chaos.

"I was getting ready for bed and I heard two shots," said Jennifer Ashley, who lives across the street. "I looked and saw this little guy running and get into an SUV and drive away."

Chris Page, who also lives across the street, said he arrived home after the shooting.

"People were outside crying and passing out," Mr. Page said.

Both Mr. Page and Ms. Ashley said they saw one of the bodies laying just inside a side door to the bar.

Police say the shooter was described as a shorter male.

The Ohio Attorney General Crime Scene Unit continued this morning to process the scene of the fatal shooting.

About an hour later after the shooting at Last Call, a call of shots fired was reported at Night Riders Motorcycle Club, 200 Allen Street. At the time, no one in the area had any information, police said, but a while later a man showed up at Fremont Memorial Hospital with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Cardell Beachum, 44, told police he was not aware he was shot until after he got home. He was also air lifted to a Toledo hospital.