Police in Struthers, Ohio have released more details about a residential shooting that killed a 4-year-old boy and injured four adults.
In a press conference late Monday morning, Struthers Police Chief Tim Roddy confirmed that authorities do not have a suspect in custody and are working to track down the alleged gunman, who is believed to have fled the home on foot.
Police have not yet identified any of the shooting victims, including the deceased boy. Roddy said at the news conference, live streamed by WKBN, that two adult female victims are in stable condition and two adult male victims are in critical condition.
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The female victims have been able to communicate with detectives, the police chief said. One of the women is believed to be the boy’s mother and a resident of the three-story home where the shooting took place early Monday morning.
One of the men was shot twice in the head, the police chief said, and another was shot multiple times in the back.
Although earlier reports stated that the victims said they did not know the shooter, the police chief indicated that the victims may be able to help authorities determine a motive.
Roddy said that all five shooting victims were in the same room of the home when the suspect entered.
“All of the victims were shot in the living room in very close proximity,” the police chief said at the news conference.
The gunman entered the home abruptly and “began yelling at the occupants. Before they had a chance to respond to his commands, or his demands, he began shooting,” Roddy told reporters.
Roddy also said that police were called to the home last week regarding an apparent overdose. The person who overdosed was not a resident of the home, the police chief said, and responding officers tracked that person down after they reportedly fled the home.
Roddy said that investigators are searching the residence for possible clues. He did not have a vehicle description for the suspect, who is believed to have run from the home after the shooting. The suspect is described as a young, light-skinned black male with a slender frame. He was reportedly wearing a black jacket at the time of the shooting.
Struthers Police are expected to hold another news conference about the shooting investigation on Monday afternoon.
CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.
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