Crime
18-year-old Ja’Niyah Hardy killed in Trotwood shooting
20-year-old Donte Lamar Cotton, Jr charged with murder after deadly Trotwood shooting
UPDATE: A 20-year-old man, Donte Lamar Cotton, Jr., has been charged with murder following a fatal shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday, October 22nd, in Trotwood, Ohio.
Trotwood Police responded to a call reporting a shooting at the 5500 block of Autumn Woods Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of 18-year-old Ja’niyah Hardy, who had been fatally shot.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office identified Hardy as the victim of the shooting.
The investigation revealed that a domestic dispute between Cotton and Hardy took place within the apartment they shared at the Autumn Woods Drive address.
Cotton has also been charged with felony counts of tampering with evidence related to Hardy’s death.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Trotwood Police Department at 937-837-7771 or Crime Stoppers at 937-222-STOP.
Cotton’s next court appearance is scheduled for Friday, October 25th.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
The victim of a fatal shooting that occurred on Wednesday at an apartment complex in Trotwood, Ohio has been identified.
Trotwood Police responded to a call at the 5500 block of Autumn Woods Drive around 3 PM, where they discovered an unresponsive woman lying on her back near the front door.
The woman, identified as Ja’Niyah Hardy, 18, had sustained a gunshot wound.
Despite life-saving efforts by first responders, Hardy succumbed to her injuries.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office is investigating the cause of death.
Authorities have confirmed that another person was present at the residence at the time of the shooting.
However, it remains unclear if a suspect is in custody.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Further details will be released as they become available.
Crime
18-year-old Kyler Naely charged for the murder in shooting death of 16-year-old Ja’Tycie Williams
An 18-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged in a deadly shooting that occurred in October, which claimed the life of a 16-year-old and injured another.
The incident began on October 6, 2024, shortly after 12:45 a.m., when officers were called to a shooting on I-244 near Yale Avenue.
Upon arrival, they discovered a gray SUV riddled with bullet holes and shattered windows. Investigators determined that seven people were inside the vehicle at the time of the shooting.
Two occupants of the vehicle suffered gunshot wounds.
One victim, 16-year-old Ja’Tycie Williams, sustained critical injuries and succumbed to them several weeks later. The other victim suffered a minor gunshot wound to the arm and survived.
Preliminary investigations revealed the incident was linked to a fight at the Tulsa State Fair earlier that evening.
Witnesses reported that the altercation, which occurred as the group was leaving the fairgrounds, likely escalated into the highway shooting.
Following an in-depth investigation, Tulsa Police Homicide Detectives identified 18-year-old Kyler Naely as the suspect responsible for the shooting.
On November 19, 2024, Naely was arrested, charged with first-degree murder, and booked into the Tulsa County Jail.
Authorities emphasize that the case remains under investigation and are urging anyone with additional information to contact Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS. Callers can remain anonymous.