Man shot in Dayton tells worker at Harrison Twp. gas station, ‘I love my kids’

Police are continuing their investigation of a shooting at a Dayton business Wednesday afternoon that sent one victim to a hospital.

• A male, believed to be in his 20s, was shot at coin laundry in Dayton
• Police found him in a car minutes later, at a Sunoco station in Harrison Twp.
• Victim "fell in through door...said 'I love my kids,' " Sunoco worker says
• Police said the victim is in critical condition
• Police recover firearm at laundry, no arrest has been made

THE FULL REPORT

UPDATE @ 8:05 p.m.:  Police have recovered a firearm in the parking lot of a coin laundry in Dayton, where they believe a male in his 20s was shot before he drove to a gas station in Harrison Twp., Dayton police Lt. Steven Bauer said.

Several shell casings were found in the lot outside the laundry in the 3400 block of Brumbaugh Boulevard as well, he said. What appeared to be a banana clip was connected to the firearm.

The victim, who was shot multiple times, is believed to be in critical condition at Grandview Medical Center.

Lt. Bauer said police are interviewing witnesses.

Surveillance shows shooting victim pull into gas station for help Police say young man was shot at a laundromat and drove up the street for help.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies began the investigation of the shooting at the Sunoco gas station, in the 3900 block of Salem Avenue, because that’s where the victim was found in the car just after 4 p.m.

>> Cause of deadly Huber Heights fire is 'undetermined'

Dayton police picked up the investigation when sheriff's detectives confirmed the shooting occurred in the city, several blocks west of the gas station.

Wednesday night, a Sunoco employee who asked not be identified by name said the victim is a customer and is liked in the neighborhood.

The victim “fell in through the door. He mumbled something,” the employee told WHIO-TV’s Sean Cudahy. The employee said he initially assumed the victim was intoxicated or had been in a fight, but recognized the victim after coming from behind the counter and seeing him on the floor.

>> Pike County Murders: 1 victim was shot through door

The victim had been shot at least once in the midsection, the employee said.

“I don’t know what was happening really, so I was trying to get him some help as soon as possible.”

The employee said, “I distinctly remember him saying, ‘I love my kids. I love my kids.’ ”

The employee said he’s hoping the man survives.

“If he pulls through, I’d like to shake his hand,” the employee said.

We will update this developing report as we learn more.

Got a tip? Call our 24-hour monitored line, 937-259-2237, or send it to newsdesk@cmgohio.com