TROTWOOD — UPDATE @ 12:00 p.m. (Jan. 28):
The death of a 3-year-old girl who died in a Trotwood shooting in December has been ruled a homicide, according to Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger.
Trinity Elam died of a gunshot wound to the head in a shooting that happened on the 200 block Outer Belle Drive in Trotwood just before 2:45 a.m. on December 16.
Her father, Nico Elam, 22, also died of a gunshot wound to the head. Harshbarger ruled his death a suicide.
UPDATE @ 8:55 a.m. (Dec 17):
A father and his 3-year-old daughter were killed in a shooting on Outer Belle Drive in Trotwood Thursday morning. Police said they are not searching for any suspects.
Nico Elam, 22, and his daughter Trinity Elam, 3, were identified as the two killed in the shooting, Montgomery County Coroner Dr. Kent Harshbarger said in a media release Friday morning.
The cause and manner of death for both Nico and Trinity have not been determined and remain under investigation, Harshbarger said.
“Once the officers got inside they found a female, age 3, and adult male who suffered apparent gunshot wounds and were deceased,” Trotwood Police Chief Erik Wilson said. “We’re pretty confident that there was no one else involved, but at this time we are just trying to get to what took place.”
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Officers responded to the shooting in the 200 block of Outer Belle around 2:45 a.m. after receiving a call from a family member.
“No, he did not shoot the child. She got a hold of a gun,” the family member told 911 dispatchers.
Police have not released any details on how the two were shot.
“As we were responding, family members also were responding,” Wilson said. “This is going to be a difficult situation for this family as well as our community.”
Trotwood Mayor Mary McDonald said she was notified of the shooting by the city manager early Thursday morning.
“I just could not believe it. It’s heart wrenching,” McDonald said. “The overall sadness that something like this could be happening here in the holiday season and at a time when we are typically celebrating and its festive.”
She said the circumstances surrounding the shooting make it even more difficult for her.
“I have a 3-year-old grandchild and my heart went to that face,” the Mayor said. “This holiday will be forever marked with this tragedy for this family.”
She urged people to check on loved ones, family and friends and offer them help if they need it.
“I know that there are people that are suffering in the community. There are people that are suffering all over this country and having difficult times,” McDonald said. “People are talking more, because the tragedies are becoming greater, but it’s something that has to be discussed.”
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