MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Middletown Division of Police is investigating three different incidents of gunfire in the city Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, including one that injured a woman.
At about 8:45 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Curtis Street on a report of several gunshots, according to city officials. They found several apartments struck by gunfire. Officers searched the area and reported no injuries during this investigation.
Residents who called 911 described hearing "a lot. A lot. A lot. A lot" of gunshots on Curtis Street and one caller said a bullet had hit their window.
Two hours later, officers were again sent to the 400 block of Curtis for a second call of shots fired at about 10:47 p.m. This time officers found a female struck in the neck by a bullet. The victim was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
"She was an innocent bystander who came out, that came out she she heard the shots," said David Birk, chief of the Middletown Police Department.
Detectives were investigating the second shooting on Curtis when they received a call of shots fired on in the 600 block 16th Avenue at about 12:57 a.m. The officers received additional information that a car crashed into a tree at 16th Avenue and South Verity Parkway with the occupants fleeing. One of the passengers was located and transported to the police station for questioning.
"We are going to put an end to this," said Birk. "We're going to really work on this, it is a top priority to keep our citizens safe and find out who's doing this."
Middletown Police Chief David Birk said detectives have not not determined if all three incidents are connected. The investigation is continuing with search warrants being executed, the chief said.
Birk also said detectives and narcotics officers will be called in to work overtime and help patrol the areas where the drive-by shootings happened and the Ohio State Highway Patrol is also sending in three officers to help. Birk said the goal is to saturate those areas with officers to deter gun violence before it happens.
Anyone with any information about any of the shootings is asked to call 911 or 513-425-7700, or contact Det. Becki French at 513-425-7742.
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