Police investigating 4 times houses were shot at in Butler County

This house in the 2300 block of Central Avenue in Middletown iwas hit by gunfire early Thursday morning. RICK MCCRABB/STAFF

This house in the 2300 block of Central Avenue in Middletown iwas hit by gunfire early Thursday morning. RICK MCCRABB/STAFF

A Central Avenue house was hit by gun fire early Thursday morning was the third in the area hit by bullet in two months.

Three shots were fired at a residence in the 2300 block of Central at about 12:40 a.m. hitting near the window area, according to Middletown police Sgt. Raqib Ahmed.

The incident is under investigation, but there were no injuries. It was unclear if the shooting was a drive-by or if the house was targeted.

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Several vehicles were seen leaving the scene of the shooting when calls were placed to police, but officers were unable to locate any of the vehicles fitting the description.

Franchesca Bretches told police her house was the residence shot at, and police report there were three other adults and four children home at the time of the incident.

Bretches said everyone was asleep on the first floor when the shots rang out, according to the police report. She said she heard several loud bangs and went outside where she saw a large SUV driving away from the area. There were several bullet holes found in the second floor siding of the house.

Major David Birk said Friday that detectives continue to investigate.

“I feel sure this house was not the target,” Birk said. “We are still trying to piece this thing together … we are fortunate that no one was hit.”

Monroe police are investigating three shots-fired incidents in April and May.

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Shots were fired about 11 p.m. May 6 in the area of Stone Ridge Lane with one round striking a house. There were no injuries.

In early April, Monroe police said multiple shots were fired on two occasions into a home in the 400 block of Brandon Drive, less than two miles from the most recent incident.

No one was injured in either incident. Police have said the drive-by shootings were targeting a specific person who lived in that house.

Monroe Officer Josh King said the incidents remain under investigation in their city. Both King and Birk say departments share information regularly to determine if there are an connections similarities in crimes.

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