NORTH COLLEGE HILL, Ohio – One man shot another during a fight Saturday morning.
Police responded to the 6500 block of Betts Avenue at about 11:45 a.m. for a report of a person shot. A woman who called 911 said she heard a man shout, "If you're on my property, I have a right to defend myself."
There, officers found Verlin Stone, a concealed carry weapons permit holder. Stone told police that a male and two females had assaulted him and knocked him to the ground.
Witnesses said the two men are neighbors.
As the altercation continued, Stone was scared the other man may have had a weapon, and he fired one round at him, he told police.
The shooting victim was driven to Mercy Health – West Hospital and then transferred to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Police didn’t immediately know his condition, but said his injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. Stone was also reportedly hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening.
No arrests have been made. The investigation was ongoing.
Neighbors expressed concern about the gunfire.
"What if they would have missed and hit one of our kids?" neighbor Desiree Lewis said. "... Our kids play all hours of the day, and it's a concern when a block away people are getting shot."
Police asked that anyone with information about the incident call them at 513-521-7171.
