2 dead after shootings, car crash in Middletown

Two people are dead, another is critically injured and others injured in two shooting incidents and a fatal car crash in Middletown on the first day of 2017.

Middletown police and detectives are investigating a fatal shooting and the Ohio Highway Patrol is investigating the fatal car crash that occurred within 10 minutes of each other shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday.

Investigators are not sure whether all of the incidents are related or not, but all the people involved were at the 513 Lounge, 613 N. Verity Parkway, before violence broke out, according to Lt. Jim Cunningham.

Officers were sent at 2:19 a.m. to a report of multiple shots being fired at the 513 Lounge, 613 N. Verity Parkway. When they arrived shots were heard from the rear parking lot, according to Cunningham.

“The officer heard the gunshots, went around the back of the building, saw the vehicle, (it) tried to flee, orders it at gunpoint. The suspect vehicle the 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,” Cunningham said.

The driver sped away from the parking lot on Verity and crashed into a stone wall at St. John’s Church at Curtis Street and First Avenue. The driver had been shot at least one time. He was taken by medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital with critical injuries. His condition and identity was not available Sunday afternoon.

Police said the front seat passenger, Mariana-Maria Richlen, of West Chester, was killed in the crash.

In addition, several back seat passengers were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries.

Two firearms were recovered that had been thrown from the vehicle. OSP is investigating the fatal crash.

Cunningham said officers did not fire any shots and they are not aware that any shots were fired at them.

About 10 minutes after the initial call of shots fired at the 513 Lounge, Middletown officers were sent to a report of multiple shots being fired in the area of Roosevelt Boulevard and Wicoff Street.

Officers did not find a shooting or crime scene, but at 2:31 a.m. two people who had been shot showed up at the Atrium Medical Center. Police determined the two had been traveling in a vehicle when they were shot near Roosevelt Boulevard, west of Wicoff Street.

Police said the driver, Stevie Waldon, of Dayton, had been shot multiple times in the chest and arm and his passenger, Teresa Shields, also of Dayton, was shot multiple times and died of her injuries.

Police continue to seek a white Jeep Cherokee with dark rims and ask you to call if you can help, (513) 425-7700.

Cunningham said detectives are asking for help from citizens who may have seen anything related to the two incidents.

“Please call us,” Cunningham said, at (513) 456-7700.

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