The driver of a pickup truck was hit by gunfire as was his vehicle, leading officers to the 100 block of South Clinton Street and First Avenue, where the vehicle hit a pole near the Eagles FOE Lodge 528, according to Sgt. Earl Nelson and Acting Chief Eric Crank.
The driver suffered a gunshot wound to the neck and died at the scene. The other vehicle involved sped away.
A male called 911 reporting hearing gunfire after a truck “rammed” a car on Verity Parkway as he was turning onto Manchester.
“The truck hit the car, then gunshots went off,” the caller said. He described the truck as a 1990s model white Chevy. The man circled around but did not see the vehicles involved.
Minutes later, a second 911 call was placed by a male reporting an “accident for Verity Parkway.” The caller spoke broken English.
The phone was then handed to a man who said he was at the Eagles lodge and a truck hit a pole.
“He is literally in the middle of the road,” the male said. The truck was still running, the caller said. The driver was “bloody,” and slumped over the wheel, according to the caller, who was able to give the dispatcher the license plate number.
Crank said detectives have gotten video and photo evidence, specifically from the bus transit building on Broad Street and witnesses have stepped up. He was confident a suspect would be in custody Wednesday afternoon.
Nelson said detectives have interviewed witnesses and have different accounts about what happened and differing descriptions of the other vehicle involved.
“It is similar, but not exactly the same to say what happened and what led to the actual shooting,” Nelson said.
A preliminary investigation indicates the truck’s engine overheated, the radiator exploded and fluid began leaking, which was tracked by police to the crashed truck, Nelson said.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Detective Ballinger 513-425-7785 or 513-425-7700.
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