Editor's note: This article was updated Sept. 2, 2015 to correct the spelling of victim Joscelyn Jones.
Seven people were shot since Sunday in incidents across Toledo, continuing an uptick in violent crime that includes five killings in less than a week.
Those five deaths — Sarah Beacher, 31; Johnny Jones, 14; Klib Papa and Devin Melman, both 19; and Robin Ellis, 55 — occurred from four separate incidents. Three victims were shot, one was stabbed, and one was killed with a large weapon, possibly a hatchet.
The latest victim, Ms. Beacher, was struck by a series of gunshots about 12:15 a.m. Tuesday at 733 Plymouth St. in East Toledo. She was sitting with friends on the porch when a gunman opened fire, police said. Emergency crews found her unresponsive and took her to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, where police said she died shortly after 4 p.m.
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Police responded after 9 a.m. Monday to a stabbing at 1041 Alcott St. in West Toledo. They found Johnny Jones and his mother, Josianne Thomas, 37, with stab wounds.
The 16-year-old suspect in that case took his girlfriend, who is Johnny’s stepsister, Joscelyn Jones, 16, from the house to ProMedica Toledo Hospital for a stabbing injury. That afternoon, he led police on a brief chase and crashed a minivan into a utility pole near Hearthstone Place and West Sylvania Avenue, police Lt. Joe Heffernan said.
An autopsy determined Johnny suffered sharp-force injuries to his neck, chest, and extremities, the Lucas County Coroner’s Office said.
He was an eighth grader last year at Leverette Elementary School and was to go to Start High School this month.
Police also reported the fatal shooting about 3:20 a.m. Monday of Mr. Papa and Mr. Melman. The two men were found dead inside a parked car in an alley behind 138 W. Sylvania Ave. Robin Ellis, 55, was also found dead about 6 p.m. Friday at his residence, 820 Clark St., police said.
Mr. Papa and Mr. Melman each suffered a gunshot wound to the back of their heads. Ellis had a head injury from a weapon larger than a knife, possibly a hatchet, according to the coroner's office.
Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson announced late Tuesday the city will organize a town hall meeting to discuss the violence. Police Chief George Kral will host the event from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday in the University of Toledo’s health and human services building.
“We want to discuss with the community ways to address this issue,” the mayor said. “It’s really about communities saying we want to take control and protect our children.”
In an online post, former mayor and current mayoral candidate Mike Bell said he was sorry for those involved with the recent string of violence. He urged a “creative, realistic, long-term solution.”
“It’s one thing to come together and talk about the ‘kids these days,’ and it’s another thing altogether to spend a few days with the kids. Get to know them. Ask them what they want their community to be like, instead of just assuming what they want,” Mr. Bell said.
Several others recently suffered gunshot wounds.
Marquise Brown, 15, of central Toledo, said he heard gunshots about 2:39 a.m. Tuesday at Cherry and East Bancroft streets in North Toledo. The teen said he then realized he was struck in the head and went to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center. His injuries are not life-threatening, police said.
Guynell Nellons, 33, of central Toledo, was shot in the neck about 4 a.m. Monday in the 1500 block of Lagrange Street in North Toledo. Mr. Nellons walked with an acquaintance when six teens approached. One drew his attention and shot him. He was taken to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center for injuries police described as not life-threatening.
About 10:45 p.m. Monday, a reported drive-by shooting occurred in the 900 block of Vance Street in central Toledo.
A gunman fired from a red Ford Windstar minivan. Timothy Pettaway-Crawford, 32, of central Toledo covered his face and was struck in the right upper arm. He was treated at the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio.
Also, a South Toledo man was hospitalized after a shooting about 1:06 a.m. Sunday. Shaquille Malone, 21, was struck at Bronson and Stickney avenues in North Toledo. Police said he was treated at Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center for a gunshot wound to the back of his knee.
Contact Ryan Dunn at: rdunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6095, or on Twitter @rdunnblade.
First Published August 12, 2015, 4:00 a.m.
