Hamilton girl, 16, who was fatally shot had a bright future, relatives say

"She had a big future ahead of her," brother Joaquin Garcia-Tovar said Tuesday night. "Bad things happen, and you never think it's going to be you. Never think it's going to be your youngest sister."

He had been preparing for bed Monday night when police knocked on his door and gave him the news: His sister had been shot inside a car that subsequently crashed near Tyler's Creek apartments on Wildbranch Road around 10:30, prompting a burst of frantic calls to 911.

"It was over five (shots); it was like pop-pop-pop-pop-pop-pop," one caller whimpered over the phone. "I don't even want to look out the window."

Garcia-Tovar appeared to be unconscious in the aftermath of the crash, according to another caller. A medical helicopter transported her to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where she was pronounced brain dead the following morning.

Another victim, an adult man, was shot in the arm. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at the University of Cincinnat Hospital West Chester.

UPDATE @ 5:25 p.m.:

A 16-year-old girl and 21-year-old man, both from Hamilton, were shot inside a vehicle shortly before 10:30 p.m. Monday at 7595 Wildbranch Road at the Tyler’s Creek Apartments.

The teen, identified as Sydney Anice Garcia-Tovar, was unconscious and later succumbed to her injuries. The other shooting victim, Joseph Ryen Goolsby, suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, Fairfield Twp. Police Chief Robert Chabali said.

“Based on evidence at the scene, more than one suspect may be involved in the incident,” Chabali stated in a release.

The case remains under investigation, and anyone with information is urged to contact detective Jamison Mays, 513-785-4178.

UPDATE @ 3:57 p.m.:

The 16-year-old girl who died in the double shooting has been identified by the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office as Sydney Garcia-Tovar.

UPDATE @ 3:30 p.m.:

A 16-year-old girl was killed Monday night in a Fairfield Twp. double shooting that left another  person with non life-threatening injuries.

Here’s what we know now from Fairfield Twp. Police Chief Robert Chabali:

“At this point in time we are looking for suspects,” Chabali said. “We don’t have much information, and we are not getting a whole lot of information from the witnesses or from people inside that vehicle. We need as much help as we can from the neighborhood and from the community.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 513-887-4406

UPDATE @ 2:10 a.m: A male and female are the reported victims after a shooting occurred on Wildbranch Road late Monday night, according to our partners at WCPO.

Authorities responded to the Tyler’s Creek Apartments in the 7500 block just before 10:30 p.m. on a shooting, per initial reports.

The female victim was reportedly flown to an area hospital via a medical helicopter, while the male was transported by ground.

Their conditions were not immediately known.

INITIAL REPORT

A medical helicopter was called to aid a victim that suffered a gunshot wound on Wild Branch Road late Monday night, according to initial reports.

OTHER LOCAL NEWS: Shots fired into Dayton crowd; no injuries reported

The incident was dispatched just before 10:30 p.m. in the 7500 block with at least two reported shooting victims, officials say.

One victim was reportedly flown by helicopter, while the other was transported by ground to an area hospital.

The conditions of the victims were not immediately available.

We are working to learn more details on the incident and will continue to update this story.