Crime
Suspect Arrested in Fatal Shooting of 18-Year-Old Alfred Hale, Dunbar High School Student in Dayton
An arrest has been made in connection with the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Alfred Hale, a senior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Dayton, Ohio.
Dayton police announced on Monday that a 23-year-old suspect was taken into custody following an extensive investigation that utilized advanced technological resources.
According to online jail records, Julius Maurice Williamson Jr., 23, was arrested by Dayton police on the morning of Saturday, April 6.
He is currently being held on suspicion of murder and a parole violation, though police have not yet formally released the suspect’s name or filed official charges.
The shooting occurred in the early morning hours of Thursday, April 4, prompting a response from Dayton officers and medics to 27 S. Jefferson Street around 7:23 a.m.
Upon arrival, authorities discovered Hale suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite emergency efforts, the teen tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Dayton Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims expressed sorrow over the loss, calling the incident a “senseless event” and emphasizing the city’s ongoing efforts to reduce violence.
“Incidents like this are exactly why we are involving the community in reducing violence and building a peaceful city,” Mayor Mims stated. “We have zero tolerance for violence in our neighborhoods, downtown, and across the city.”
Dayton Public Schools Superintendent Dr. David Lawrence also issued a heartfelt statement following Hale’s death:
“The Dayton Public School District is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a 12th-grade student at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. Alfred Hale was a valued member of both the Dunbar family and the broader Dayton Public Schools community. He will be greatly missed by students, staff, and all who knew him.”
Dr. Lawrence added that a crisis support team was immediately deployed to the high school on Friday and will continue to be available to assist students in coping with the tragedy.
He also urged students in need of support outside school hours to contact the Montgomery County 24/7 Crisis Support Line at 833-580-2255.
The superintendent further shared that he would be visiting the Hale family personally, reiterating the school district’s commitment to working with the city and local organizations to address the root causes of youth violence.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Dayton Police.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.