LIBERTY TWP., Butler County — UPDATE @ 12:45 p.m.:
Five people have been shot resulting in the deaths of two people in two unrelated shootings at a Liberty Twp. park, the first fatal shootings in the Butler County township in six years, Sheriff Richard Jones said in a news conference Thursday.
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The shootings took place within 48 hours of each early Tuesday morning and late Wednesday night at Liberty Park, behind the Lakota Family YMCA on Yankee Road.
Wednesday night’s shooting resulted from two groups that wanted to “settle their differences” and involved “at least a couple dozen people," Jones said. When the two groups lined up to fight, shots were fired, hitting three victims.
Antaun Hill Jr. 18, was shot and later died at West Chester Medical Center, according to the sheriff’s office and our news partners WCPO-TV in Cincinnati.
Two other victims, identified as Zyquon Moody, 18, and Zyshaun Johnson, 19, were also shot in the incident and drove themselves to the West Chester hospital. Both of their injuries are described as non-life threatening.
Deputies have charged 18-year-old Romel Velasquez with murder and felonious assault charges, WCPO-TV reports. Jones said more charges are pending.
Wednesday’s incident was only 500 feet away from another fatal shooting Tuesday morning that resulted in the death of Khalic Rova-Shaquille Milton, 25, of Cincinnati.
Investigators said three people, Kaleb Marshall Tooson, 18, Tyree Jeffery Cross, 25, and a 14-year-old girl all lured Milton to the Liberty Twp. park to rob him and take his car, Jones said.
During the robbery, Milton was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead. The alleged shooter, Tooson, accidentally shot himself during the incident and was treated for his injuries, Jones said.
Tooson and the 14-year-old girl have both been arrested. Tooson is facing charges of murder and aggravated robbery. The juvenile is facing charges of complicity to aggravated robbery, complicity to murder, and tampering with evidence.
Cross remains on the run and a warrant has been issued for his arrest on charges of robbery, complicity to murder, complicity to aggravated robbery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office asks for anyone with details on either incident to call investigators.
FIRST REPORT:
One person has died and two others were injured after a shooting at a Liberty Twp. park Wednesday night. This is the second deadly shooting in the Butler County township in less than 48 hours, and both incidents were only 500 feet apart, according to the sheriff’s office.
Wednesday’s incident was reported at Liberty Park on Yankee Road, west of Cincinnati Dayton Road in Liberty Twp. around 10 p.m.
One victim, who was not identified, was transported by medics to West Chester Medical Center and later died from their injuries, according to a media release from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.
Two other people drove themselves to the hospital after the shooting with injuries described as non-life threatening, investigators said.
The shooting is the second deadly incident in Liberty Twp. this week, following the fatal shooting of Khalic Rova-Shaquille Milton, 25, of Cincinnati.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said both shootings do not appear to be connected at this time.
Milton was found shot multiple times early Tuesday morning in the 6000 block of Spruce Creek Drive, just 500 feet from Wednesday night’s shooting scene, deputies said.
Two teens, Kaleb Marshall Toosen, 18, of Liberty Twp. and a 14-year-old female were arrested and are facing multiple charges including murder stemming from Milton’s death, deputies said. Warrants have been issued for a third person, Tyree Jeffery Cross, 25, of Cincinnati, who is wanted in connection to the incident.
Investigators said Toosen, Cross, and the 14-year-old girl lured Milton into Liberty Twp. to steal his car and Milton was shot several times during the robbery.
The Butler County Sheriff’s Office has scheduled an 11 a.m. news conference in Hamilton to discuss the incidents.