MONROE, Ohio — Police held an informal “town hall” meeting Monday night to assure concerned neighbors that a pair of weekend shootings on Brandon Drive did not represent a danger to them.
Both targeted the same house, leaving fourteen bullet holes in the siding and 20 shell casings over the course of two visits. No one was injured. Officer Joshua King said police initially believed the first, which happened late Saturday night, might be random.
The second dispelled that idea early Monday morning.
“They’re targeting someone specific,” he said. “That’s why we’re reaching out to the community to let them know we’re doing everything we can to solve this as quickly as possible.”
He added he believed the incident may have stemmed from a dispute over money and emphasized residents should continue to think of Monroe as a safe community. Investigators worked the scene overnight Monday and hoped to identify the culprit before a they could stage potential third attack.
Not every attendee was convinced the violence would stay limited to one address.
Nicole Babel, who had tucked her children into bed shortly before the first round of gunshots Saturday night, said she was especially worried about the safety of her young family.
“We moved into this neighborhood thinking (it was) a great opportunity to grow with the community, build our family,” she said. “Now, we have this right down the street.”
She added she was grateful police made an effort to keep the community informed but wanted to know more. If the attacks were motivated by money, were drugs involved? What could motivate someone to make such a dramatic statement?
“It makes it hard for us to want to come outside,” she said.
The owner of the targeted home did not attend the meeting and declined to make a public comment.
Anyone wiith information about the shootings should call 513-539-9234.
