A fatal shooting has occurred in Lima on Independence Day for the last three years. We caught up with a Lima Police Department official on how they’re preparing for 2019.
The Lima Police Department is preparing for another crowd heavy holiday celebration the same way it does for other major holidays, including having every available officer working.
"We have to do that on everything," said Sgt. Chris Sprouse. "When we have St. Patty's Day, New Years Eve, all that. We go ahead and prepare up front. What we do is we use both shifts. So, our second shift people stay over our third shift people will be in. So, we’ll have almost double the amount of officers we normally have."
In all three fatal shootings, they occurred after the city’s organized celebration.
In 2016 a shooting broke out overnight at the G-Spot Bar on E. North Street. Now 26-year-old Demonta Rogers was convicted for the murder of 26-year-old Remeal Ingrim.
In 2017, at the same location, then known as the Gas Station Bar, 36-year-old Davohn Godsey was found shot to death by now convicted 26-year-old Dearin Thomas.
In 2018, the former UAW Hall was rented out for a private party with nearly 200 people. A shooting began inside working its way outside, leaving 23-year-old Carrington Lott dead.
That case remains unsolved and LPD is asking, still, for anyone in the community with information that may help, to come forward.
Sprouse did say LPD will monitor the venues that may have after parties on July 4.
"We try to stay in contact with the bar owners, the event planners and stuff like that. A lot of time they’re real receptive."
A proposal to city council that is still being discussed would require notification to the police of when a large gathering is planned outside of the major holiday celebrations.
