HAMILTON, Ohio -- Eight people face charges in connection to a pair of shootings in Hamilton that left three people dead and several others injured.
A Butler County grand jury returned indictments Thursday against seven men and one woman for the July 24 shooting at Doubles Bar and the Aug. 3 drive-by shooting along Central Avenue. Some could face the death penalty if found guilty, according to the prosecutor.
Mondale Goens, 21, was arrested at the scene of the Doubles Bar shooting for allegedly shooting his brother, Kalif Goens, but he was not indicted for murder. Information from witnesses, as well as physical evidence, determined he did not fire the shots that killed his brother, according to officials.
Two counts of felonious assault were added to his charges. He is also accused of shooting and injuring two others — Katrina Price, 18, and Tavaris Gilbert, 20, both of Hamilton.
Several days later on Aug. 3, three people were charged after a drive-by shooting in Hamilton that killed two people, which officials say was a "murder for hire," according to the indictment.
The incidents illustrate “a small group of people responsible for violence in Hamilton,” Hamilton Police Chief Chief Craig Bucheit said. “That’s who we’re focused on moving forward.”
Both shootings are connected, Bucheit said, but how they are connected remains unclear.
Zachary Harris, 24, of Columbus, was charged with two counts of aggravated murder in the Central Avenue shooting that killed Orlando Gilbert and Todd Berus. A charge of having weapons while under disability was also added.
Melinda Ann Gibby, 35, of Lancaster, and Tony Patete, 23, of Newark, are each charged with two counts of aggravated murder in connection with the drive-by shooting.
The indictment released Thursday also included charges against three additional suspects. Michael Tracey Grevious II was charged with felonious assault, having weapons while under disability and aggravated murder in the death of Orlando Gilbert.
Artis McKennelly was charged with murder in the death of Kalif Goens and having weapons while under disability.
Rodrick Dion Curtis was charged with felonious assault and having weapons while under disability.
Cory Cortez Cook II was charged with felonious assault.
Charged in the Central Avenue shooting are:
- Zachary Harris, 24, of Columbus: Two counts of aggravated murder with a death penalty specification alleging the crimes were for hire, with specifications that a gun was used in the crime and a classification as a repeat violent offender, and having weapons under disability.
- Melinda Ann Gibby, 35, of Lancaster: Two counts of aggravated murder with a death penalty specification alleging the crimes were for hire and with a specification that a gun was used in the crime.
- Tony Patete, 23, of Newark: Two counts of aggravated murder with a death penalty specification alleging the crimes were for hire and with a specification that a gun was used in the crime.
- Michael Tracey Grevious II, 23, of Maple Ave., Hamilton: One count of aggravated murder with a death penalty specification alleging the crime was for hire and with specifications that a gun was used in the crime and classifying him as a repeat violent offender.
Charged in the Doubles Bar shooting are:
- Mondale Goens, 21, of Maple Ave., Hamilton: Two counts of felonious assault with specifications that a gun was used in the crime.
- Cornell McKennelly II, 37, of Franklin St., Hamilton: One count of murder with specification that a gun was used in the crime and having weapons under disability.
- Rodrick Curtis, North 7th Street, Hamilton: Felonious assault with the specification that a gun was used in the crime and having weapons under disability.
- Michael Tracey Grevious II, 23, of Maple Ave., Hamilton: Felonious assault with a specification that a gun was used in the crime and the classification of a repeat violent offender, and having weapons under disability.
- Cory Cook II, 23, 9th Street, Hamilton: Felonious assault with the specification that a gun was used in the crime.
WCPO's media partner, The Journal-News, contributed to this report.
