DAYTON — The 8-year-old boy that died after a shooting in Dayton Sunday night has been identified.
Nolan Combs was identified Tuesday afternoon by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office. Melissa Hensley, 34, was pronounced dead Sunday night at the home where the shooting was reported, according to the coroner’s office. It’s unknown at this time if Hensley was shot.
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News Center 7′s Mike Campbell spoke to Nolan’s dad, James Combs, Tuesday. He said he had a message from the coroner’s office on his work phone and then his former sister-in-law called him.
“And she said, ‘Yes, it’s true, he’s dead’ and I just broke down,” he said.
James said the news about his 8-year-old son kept getting worse because he believes his ex-wife, Hensley, purposefully shot him. Dayton police have not commented about the circumstances of the shooting or whether they believe the shooting was intentional or accidental.
Police were called to a home in the 1800 block of Fieldstone Drive on reports of a shooting around 10:15 p.m. Sunday.
Dispatchers received an emotional 911 call from a man who claimed to be the grandfather of the victim.
“Oh God, my daughter, I think my grandson’s been shot, I don’t even know what happened,” the caller tells dispatchers.
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He told them he didn’t see anything because he was in the home’s basement.
Nolan was taken from the scene to Dayton Children’s Hospital where he died from his injuries.
“Why, why, why was my child not given to me and put into my custody?” James asked.
While he’s overcome by grief, James also feels anger and regret. He told News Center 7 that when he and Hensley got divorced, and in the years since, he had tried to gain custody of Nolan. He believe his child was not in a safe environment.
He claimed no one in the domestic court and child welfare system would listen to his concerns.
“This is a tragedy that never should have happened. This baby, they failed this baby. They failed this child,” James said.
Montgomery County regional dispatch records indicate there was possibly a handgun and a shotgun in the home.
We’ll continue to provide updates as we learn more.