News

Actions

Surveillance tapes point to leads in Middletown homicide

Posted at 11:44 AM, Jun 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-30 19:13:32-04

MIDDLETOWN, Ohio - Nearly two weeks after a fatal shooting in the parking lot of a Middletown apartment complex, police are continuing to investigate leads, including surveillance video.

Jerry Barnett Jr., 25, of Middletown, was killed in a late night shooting while sitting in a car in the lot of Williamsburg Place Apartments on Jackson Lane, according to Middletown police.

Barnett and three others walked out of his apartment in the Williamsburg Place development at about 10:25 p.m. and got into a vehicle. One or more people on foot began shooting at the car, striking Barnett, who was sitting in the backseat, according to Middletown police.

The driver of the car, Aubrey Melvin, fled the scene with Dante Curry in the front seat and the wounded Barnett in the back seat. They drove to the Dollar General at 2106 Central Ave., where they called police.

The first officers to respond at the Dollar General saw Barnett on his back in the floor board of the backseat. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“We were able to get some surveillance tape that provided some leads that we are following up on,” said Maj. Mark Hoffman this week.

He added detectives do not believe the shooting was random, but they have not ruled out any motive, including drugs and revenge.

Barnett was known to Middletown police and had previously been arrested for driving under suspension, drug abuse heroin, burglary and assault, according to Middletown Municipal Court records.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lt. Jim Cunningham at 513-425-7737.

The Journal-News is a news partner of WCPO.