DAYTON — Two people are dead after a reported shooting in Dayton Wednesday morning, according to police on scene.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office identified the victims Wednesday afternoon as 32-year-old Precious Taste and 16-year-old Deante Johnson.
>> PHOTOS: Officers, medics on scene after reports of Dayton shooting
As reported on News Center 7 at 5:00 Wednesday, Dayton police and medics were dispatched at 6:20 a.m. to the 1400 block of Shaftesbury Road on initial reports of a shooting.
Dayton Police Major Brian Johns said this is being investigated as a double homicide.
Dispatchers received 911 calls from neighbors and from someone who may have been inside the house when someone came in and opened fire.
That call and several others from neighbors had officers rushing to the scene.
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Police went inside as soon as they pulled up. They discovered, and confirmed, what neighbors feared.
“All I could do was cry because it was her, I knew it was her,” said Joyce Buckingham.
Buckingham said she had a friendship with a young mother who lived two doors down from her. She was overcome with emotions and went inside her home, but outside, friends and family of the two victims filled the streets, crying and hoping for answers.
Police said they have been called to this home, even less than 24 hours earlier, but do not think those calls had any relation to the fatal gunfire.
“We don’t think any issue in the neighborhood or neighborhood trouble caused this to occur,” Johns said.
Family and friends say the loss of a young mother just expands this tragedy.
“I thought to myself, the babies, the babies, I was thinking of the babies, I was thinking of the babies,” Buckingham said.
Police said they have a number of leads to follow up on. They said they want to move quickly and hope to identify a gunman and make an arrest in the next 24 to 48 hours.
Anyone with information that can help police is asked to contact 937-333-1232 where they can speak with a detective. If the person wishes to remain anonymous they can do so through Crime Stoppers at 937-222-STOP (7867) or www.miamivalleycrimestoppers.com.
We will continue providing updates.
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