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
34-year-old Augusta Fireman Spencer Johnson charged in accidental shooting of his 3-year-old son in Harlem
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
A Columbia County father, Spencer Allen Johnson, 34, of Harlem, Georgia, has been charged with child cruelty after his 3-year-old son, Evan Johnson, accidentally shot himself in the shoulder with an unsecured firearm.
According to authorities, the incident occurred Thursday night when the child accessed an unsecured firearm in his father’s bedroom.
The young boy, left unsupervised, discharged the weapon, resulting in a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Fortunately, the child is expected to make a full recovery.
Johnson, a decorated firefighter from Augusta, was arrested on Friday.
He faces charges of child cruelty stemming from criminal negligence, which authorities allege caused “excessive physical pain” to his son through neglectful supervision. He is currently being held at the Columbia County Detention Center with bond set at $10,100.
The Harlem Police Department did not initially release information about the shooting. However, as rumors of the incident spread on social media, the situation was later confirmed by both WGAC’s Austin Rhodes and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office late Friday evening.
Early Saturday morning, Harlem Police Chief issued a statement on the department’s Facebook page, stating that the case remains under investigation as new details emerge.
The Chief’s statement suggests that the full circumstances surrounding the shooting are still being determined.
In his booking photo, Johnson is seen wearing an anti-suicide smock, a standard precautionary measure taken in some detention facilities.
The incident has sparked discussions about gun safety and parental responsibility. Authorities are expected to release further information as the investigation unfolds.
Meanwhile, the Columbia County community remains concerned about ensuring proper firearm storage to prevent similar tragedies.