The sheriff’s office identified the man shot and killed as Antaun Hill Jr., 18, of Fairfield Twp.
Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones said Wednesday’s event started when two groups met in the park for a fight and someone started shooting. Romel Velasquez, 18, of Cincinnati was arrested and charged with murder and felonious assault.
Zyquon Moody, 18, of Hamilton and Zyshaun Johnson, 19, of Cincinnati, were shot and injured.
Butler County Sheriff's Office press conference about shooting in Liberty Township.
Posted by Journal-News on Thursday, June 11, 2020
“Two groups decided they would meet behind the YMCA,” Jones said. “The two groups lined up and started fighting.”
Jones said it appears Hill may have been a member of Velasquez’ group.
Jones said the incident is not gang-related and not related to the shooting Tuesday morning. Shootings in Liberty Twp. are “very unusual,” he said, while noting it has been six years since the last fatal shooting in the township.
“It is a crazy world we live in,” Jones said. ”Doesn’t matter where you live, pay attention to where your kids are.”
The first incident, in which one person was killed, happened at about 5:23 a.m. Tuesday when a group met at the park. The sheriff’s office said suspects “lured” the victim, Khalic Rova-Shaquille Milton, 25, of Cincinnati to the area to steal his car. Then there was an altercation on the bike path.
“The struggle continued all the way back to his (Milton’s) car,” said sheriff’s office Major Mike Craft. “He made it back to his vehicle, where he was shot and left in the street.”
Milton was found dead in the 6000 block of Spruce Creek Drive.
Two teens have been arrested in Tuesday’s incident, and a warrant has been issued for a third man. Kaleb Marshall Tooson, 18, of Liberty Twp. was arrested on charges of murder and aggravated robbery, and a 14-year-old girl was arrested on charges of complicity to aggravated robbery, complicity to murder and tampering with evidence.
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A warrant also was issued for Tyree Jeffery Cross, 25, of Cincinnati, who is sought on charges of complicity to murder, complicity to aggravated robbery and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
The sheriff’s office released a map showing how close the two incidents happened to one another.
During the struggle, Tooson was also shot under the arm. He was treated and released from a hospital and booked into the Butler County Jail at 12:22 a.m. Wednesday. Craft said it is unclear how Tooson was shot.
A man called 911 and reported hearing gunshots in the cul de sac or close by. Then he said something was in the roadway.
“Two or three gunshots is what it sounded like … then a car sped away and it looks like there is something out in our street.” the caller said.
He told the dispatcher the object was large enough to be a person.
A vehicle believed to be connected to the incident was found abandoned in West Chester Twp., which led to a search of the area for those connected to the vehicle.
West Chester Twp. officials assisted in the search in the area of U.S. 42 and Cox Road shortly after the shooting. The township posted to social media that “a sheriff’s helicopter and drone will be searching the area and residents will notice an increased police presence.”
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