Journal-News.com

HAMILTON — Hiding in a corner, a frightened teenager called police to get help after a gunshot was fired through the front door of the home.

The bullet struck 34-year-old Jeff Freeman shortly after 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, as he was answering the door of his home in the 1100 block of Central Avenue, said Hamilton Sgt. Michael Waldeck.

Freeman remains in University Hospital for treatment of a wound to his left shoulder, but hospital officials Thursday would not release any details of his condition.

Detectives are not naming any suspects, and the incident remains under investigation.

Police were notified of the shooting when a teenager inside the house, who referred to Freeman as her stepfather, called 911 and frantically repeated the address several times to the emergency dispatcher.

Dispatcher: "Did they shoot him or not? I need to know."

Caller: "I don't, I don't know. I'm... hiding ... I don't know what happened. Please hurry up. I don't know what happened."

Freeman was conscious and able to walk to the rescue vehicle that transported him to the Butler County Regional Airport, where he was transferred to a medical helicopter, police said.

Witnesses reported seeing a suspect — described as a tall, thin black male wearing a black sweatshirt — fleeing the scene in an unknown direction.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2122

or rwilson@coxohio.com.