CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — It was a night of violence across Ohio’s First Capital.
According to the Chillicothe Police Department, gunshots rang out across the area as suspects opened fire on multiple residences.
It all began around 11:18 p.m. near Mill Street and Central Center. Officers stated in their report that they observed what appeared to be gunshot holes in the residence along Mill Street.
Nearly simultaneously dispatchers received reports of shots fired in the 300 block of East Main Street. Police officers responded to a report of gunfire in an alleyway. The officer spoke with a witness who said they saw a white 4-door sedan driving away from the scene. The officer found 9 spent shell casings in the alleyway.
The officer reviewed security footage from a nearby business, which showed the suspect vehicle. The footage was too grainy to identify the make, model, or license plate number of the vehicle. However, the footage did show someone in the passenger seat firing a gun into the air.
Then, during the early morning hours, a residence on Linn Street on the city’s west side was hit by gunfire.
Upon arrival, officers found a white Hyundai with a bullet hole in the driver door and multiple spent shell casings in the street. They also found multiple bullet holes in the east side of 630 Linn Street.
Police spoke with several neighbors, but only one saw anything. The neighbor said they saw a tall, slim, male wearing a ski mask running westbound on Linn Street looking back at the house that had been shot up. The neighbor was unable to tell the race of the male suspect because of how dark the street was at night.
Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact the Chillicothe Police Department.
Over the last 12 months the Guardian has repeatedly reached out to Chief of Police Ron Meyers about the continued rise of violent crime in the area. The chief has refused to respond to the publication’s questions, leaving many in the community wondering what is being done to help curb the violence and ensure the safety of residents in Ohio’s First Capital.
Over the last 24 months, there have been well over 30 shootings in Ross County, many of which were perpetrated by suspects under the age of 25. Several cases are unsolved, and the shooters are still free to roam the streets of Chillicothe.
