Steven Waldon, 34, of Middletown was the driver of the 2010 Audi that was sprayed with gun shots at Roosevelt and Wicoff. Both Waldon and Shields, his girlfriend, suffered gunshot wounds and Waldon drove them and two other passengers to Atrium Medical Center emergency room. Shields died at the hospital.
MORE: Middletown chief seeks justice and to reassure city residents
Lt. Jim Cunningham said Waldon has identified the Jeep seized in Chicago as the vehicle that shots came from, but says he does not know the identity of the shooter.
“The owner of the vehicle is a person of interest,” Cunningham said, noting that person lives in Chicago, but has ties to Middletown.
Middletown Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw said he and detectives met with Shields parents last week to talk about leads in the case.
"We have a number of leads and have seized evidence while in Chicago (and) working with the Chicago Police Department. But we still need more information. We are working 24/7 on this case and it is paying dividends," Muterspaw said in a Facebook post. "Don't forget this girl or this family. They need you to remember and stand for her. Say something if you know something."
MORE: 2 of 5 guns in fatal shooting stolen
The Ohio Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the fatal car crash early on Jan. 1 that killed Mariama-Maria Richlen, 24, West Chester Twp.
Richlen was a passenger in a car driven by Deshawn Rippey, 22, of Hamilton, that flel from the parking lot of the 513 Lounge on North Verity Parkway when shots were fired in the parking lot area behind the bar. Before officers could stop Rippey’s Buick, it had crashed into a wall at the rear of St. John’s Church.
Waldon and Shields also attended the New Year’s party at the 513 Lounge, but it is not known if the shooting incidents are connected.
Anyone with information regarding the Shields homicide can:
Call the anonymous hotline at 513-425-7749
Send police a private message via Facebook
Call Detective Steve Winters or Detective Sam Allen at 513-425-7737
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