Middletown chief seeks justice for shooting victim

UPDATE @2 P.M.TUESDAY

Middletown police located 13 rounds in the roadway at Roosevelt Boulevard and Wicoff minutes after Steve Waldon drove at 2010 Audi to the emergency room entrance at Atrium Medical Center early Sunday morning, according to a police report.

Waldon was shot multiple times and remains hospitalized. His passenger, Teresa Shields, 26, was also shot multiple times. Shields died at the hospital.

The rounds were identified as .223 shells, Winchester brand, according to police. Also taken from the shooting site was a gray and black beanie with “Deadpool” written on the side of it, according to the report.

A resident in that area of Roosevelt and Wicoff called 911 at 2:29 a.m. and said he heard “about 10 shots” from the Roosevelt area near AK Steel.

“It was about 10 shots, didn’t hear no return fire,” said the caller, who told dispatchers he wanted to remain anonymous.

UPDATE @11:30 A.M. TUESDAY

Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw today addressed two deadly events that occurred Sunday morning.

Muteterspaw, via Facebook Live at 11 a.m., said overall crime has declined in the city in the past couple years and the recent crime is a “blip on the screen.”

The chief held up a photo of Teresa Shields, killed early Sunday when she was a passenger in car after leaving a New Year’s Eve party at 513 Lounge on Verity Parkway.

“She (Shields) wasn’t doing anything wrong … all because someone wanted to be a tough guy,” Muterspaw said. “She deserves justice.”

The chief said an off-duty officer at the lounge heard shots from the back over-flow parking lot, and tried to stop a vehicle that sped away.

The driver, identified as Deshawn Rippy, 22, of Hamilton, crashed into a stone wall at St. John’s Church on First Avenue, after speeding away from the parking lot on Verity. Rippy had been shot at least one time. He was taken by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton with critical injuries.

Police said the front-seat passenger, Mariana-Maria Richlen, of West Chester Twp. was killed in the crash. In addition, multiple back-seat passengers were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries.

Muterspaw said the management of 514 Lounge is being cooperative. Detectives are working non-stop to solve the incident, the chief said.

He asked for help from citizens to bring the culprits to justice. Anyone with information can call 513-425-7700.

INITIAL STORY:

A 26-year-old woman who was killed in an early New Year’s Day shooting in Middletown — one of two deadly events that morning — was seated in a car with the “love of her life,” according to her sister.

The victim, Teresa Shields, a health care worker, was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Stevie Waldon, of Dayton and formerly of Middletown, when the car was hit by rifle fire about 2:29 a.m. Sunday on Roosevelt Boulevard near Wicoff Street. Waldon, who was shot multiple times, drove the vehicle to Atrium Medical Center, where he and Shields, who was also shot multiple times, were treated. Shields died of her injuries, and Waldon is still hospitalized, said Middletown police Lt. Jim Cunningham.

Shields is one of five sisters who are originally from New Mexico and moved to Middletown at a young age, said sister Annie Maria Shields.

“She was amazing,” Annie Maria Shields said through tears on Monday. “Everywhere she went she brought laughter. She was just beautiful. Loved shoes and purses. It is just so terrible.”

Teresa Shields was at the 513 Lounge on Verity Parkway for a New Year’s Eve party along with others in the car, according to police. Just 10 minutes before Waldon’s car was hit by gunfire, multiple gunshots were reported in the back parking lot outside the 513 Lounge. An off-duty officer providing security heard the shots, Cunningham said.

“The officer heard the gunshots, went around the back of the building, saw the vehicle, (it) tried to flee,” Cunningham said. “The suspect vehicle then drove at high rate of speed between two parked cars in the parking lot, jumped over a parking curb and on to the street and ultimately crashed.”

The driver, identified as Deshawn Rippy, 22, of Hamilton, crashed into a stone wall at St. John’s Church on First Avenue, after speeding away from the parking lot on Verity. Rippy had been shot at least one time. He was taken by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton with critical injuries. His condition was not available on Monday, but police said he is still hospitalized.

Backseat passengers in Rippy’s vehicle were not hit by gunfire, according to police. Three guns, two found by police and one by a resident, were thrown from the vehicle.

Police said the front-seat passenger, Mariana-Maria Richlen, of West Chester Twp. was killed in the crash. In addition, multiple back-seat passengers were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries.

Cunningham said Monday detectives are continuing to investigate to determine whether the two incidents are connected, but he said they do know all involved were at the 513 Lounge for the New Year’s Eve party.

Detectives are asking for help from those who may have seen anything related to the two incidents. Call 513-425-7700.

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