Coontz seeking end to gun violence after 4th shooting

MANSFIELD – With four people recovering from gunshot wounds Monday, stemming from two separate incidents, Mansfield Police Chief Ken Coontz is calling for an end to gun violence.

A man is being treated at OhioHealth MedCentral Mansfield Hospital following a shooting in Johns Park around 1 p.m. Monday. His identity has not been released.

Lamonte Gordon, 27, suffered a gunshot wound to the arm late Sunday during a fight at Baku Grotto Hall.

28-year-old Dorian Voltaire was shot twice in the stomach in what appears to be an attempted robbery at 111 1/2 Wood St., and his believed assailant, 16-year-old Ashton Auflick, was also shot before running to Blymer Avenue, where medical staff transported him to the hospital.

Of the four, incidents at Baku Grotto Hall and John's Park are believed to be related, as are the incidents on Wood Street and Blymer Avenue, Mansfield Police Chief Ken Coontz said.

"This gun violence needs to stop," Coontz said. "There are many other way to resolve conflict than resorting to shooting each other."

All of the incidents took place in relatively public places, Coontz said. The reality is, stray bullets could have injured or killed innocent bystanders, he said.

"As a community, we need to take a firm stance against gun violence," Coontz said.

The most recent shooting happened around 1 p.m. at John's Park, Monday.

Mansfield police Capt. Shari Robertson said the victim was a male, approximately 23 years old. He was transported by a private vehicle to OhioHealth MedCentral Mansfield Hospital. His condition is unknown.

Robertson said the victim and another person were apparently on the basketball court when the shooting occurred. Police were searching the area for evidence.

There was blood on the sidewalk and a window broken out along Stocking Avenue.

One person was being questioned, but no arrests have been made.

"We're still investigating. We're not sure what caused it," Robertson said.

The shooting is related to one that occurred late Sunday at Baku Grotto Hall, 747 S. Main St., police said.

Police were called to the hall at 11:46 p.m. for a fight. While en route, they were told shots had been fired, according to a police new release.

"Once on scene, officers found a very large crowd of people in the parking lot with sporadic fighting," according to the release. The crowd dispersed quickly once officers arrived.

Police were told shots had been fired and someone may have been injured, but only found blood at the scene. A short time later, MedCentral Hospital reported a 27-year-old man, Gordon, had come to the emergency room with a gunshot wound to the arm.

Police found a .380 casing and a live 9mm round inside the hall, according to the police report.

The incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Frank Parrella, 419-755-9470.

kdurbin@nncogannett.com

419-521-7205

Twitter: @njKaitlinDurbin