Authorities are investigating a homicide with possible drug connections that occurred at the intersection of East Temple and Delaware streets in Washington Court House overnight Thursday.
At 1:16 a.m., the Washington C.H. Police Department received a call of a possible shooting at the intersection. Once they arrived, officers located a male — identified as Robert Lee Gould II, 45 — lying face-down on the ground.
Personnel from Fayette County Emergency Medical Services were called, however Gould II died at the scene from a gunshot wound to the chest, according to Washington Police Department Chief Jeff Funari.
A suspect in the shooting is in custody on unrelated charges. His name will not be released at this time, Funari said, as the investigation is ongoing.
“We’re still gathering evidence and conducting interviews at this time,” said Funari.
Gould II was involved in an altercation on the sidewalk at the East Temple/Delaware intersection when the shooting occurred.
According to Fayette County Sheriff Vernon Stanforth, investigative leads revealed that individuals reportedly associated to a narcotics investigation were possibly connected to the homicide and subsequently, an early morning traffic incident on US 35.
Members of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington Court House Police Department, assisted by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. unit, executed search warrants early on Thursday afternoon at two locations in Washington Court House. The search warrants were the result of a months-long investigation into drug trafficking by sheriffs’ detectives and agents of the US 23 Major Crimes Task Force.
On Thursday morning at approximately 4:30 a.m., the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a call of an erratic motorist traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of US #35 near Milepost 76. Deputies checked the area, discovering that the vehicle had been involved in a crash and that another occupant had reportedly fled the vehicle.
Deputies identified the only occupant inside the vehicle as Kyle W. Wilson, 28, of Washington Court House. A firearm, suspected narcotics, and US currency were located and Wilson was placed under arrest and charged with possession of a weapon under disability, a felony of the third degree. Wilson was transported to the Fayette County Jail where he was incarcerated and is currently being held without bond due to the placement of a holder by the Ohio Adult Parole Authority.
Shortly after 1 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the home of Roxanna Mann at 623 E. Paint St. in Washington Court House. The search warrant was executed without incident and several subjects at the home were identified and detained. During the search of the residence, articles of evidence were seized including suspected narcotics and US currency, and a firearm.
At approximately 1:35 p.m., law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the home of Kyle and Justin Wilson at 407 Broadway St. in Washington Court House. This search warrant was also executed without incident. Detectives identified two subjects inside the home and seized articles of evidence including drug paraphernalia items.
No charges have been filed yet as a result of the search warrant executions. The cases will be forwarded to Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney Jess C. Weade for review and determination on appropriate charges after all evidence in the cases have been processed.
Reach Record-Herald Editor Ryan Carter at 740-313-0352.
