9-year-old Ohio shooting victim critical Saturday

11/23/2013

COLUMBUS — A 9-year-old central Ohio boy remains in critical condition after, authorities say, he was shot by his mother’s former boyfriend in a series of shootings that ended with the man’s death.

Jaiden Dixon was at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus today. Two more people were hospitalized Friday from the shootings.

Columbus police say officer Steve Smith was in stable condition and is expected to be released over the weekend. A second former girlfriend of the suspect had been hospitalized Friday in critical condition; the hospital didn’t have updated information to release today on 42-year-old Vicki Vertin.

Police say after shootings at two locations, 47-year-old Danny Thornton was tracked to a shopping area, where he was killed after emerging from his car with a gun Friday.