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Toledo Police Chief addresses city's 6 murders in 3 weeks
Posted: 11.11.2011 at 5:49 PM
Angi Gonzalez

Angi is the evening anchor for WNWO at 6 and 11.

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Thursday night's victim, Raynail Gaiter, was killed during a home invasion at Ravine Park Village.  / Lucas County
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TOLEDO -- Another shooting death, Thursday night, is putting pressure on Toledo's new police chief.

Since Derrick Diggs was sworn-in 3 weeks ago, replacing long-time Chief Mike Navarre, there have been a total of 6 murders in Toledo.

"These are senseless, violent acts. There is no need for this. It frustrates me," Diggs said. 

The most recent murder, in East Toledo, took the life of 31-year-old Raynail Gaiter.

Officials say Gaiter and 21-year-old Sotero Thompson were both shot during a home invasion at an apartment in Ravine Park Village.

Authorities are now looking for multiple suspects in the case who were reportedly wearing masks during the crime.

Multiple suspects are also at-large in the shootings of 39-year-old Darnell Tall and 29-year-old Zyra Braswell.

Tall was found shot to death in a North Toledo home on Monday night, Braswell was shot in the leg and survived.

The chief says information from the public will be crucial in solving both Tall and Gaiter's murders.

"We need to get the citizens out in the neighborhoods to work with us. They got to let us know what's going on in their neighborhood. They got to tell us what’s going on. They know who, in some cases, they know very well the individuals that are perpetrating these crimes but we can’t get them to come forward," Diggs said. 

According to Diggs, the investigations into the 4 other recent murders are moving along with 3 arrests and another suspect identified.  

27-year-old Livorio Sandoval Jr was arrested in Dallas County, Texas this week. 

He was wanted in connection to the South Toledo murder of 35-year-old Alvaro Vallejo Jr.

The victim was found inside a car that had crashed into a fire hydrant at the intersection of Broadway and Prouty Avenue on October 26th.

While Diggs refuses to comment on whether or not the 6 recent murders are related he says the crimes do have similarities.

"The shootings are occurring for the same reasons. Individuals that are all group related shootings in most cases where the victims and the suspects have some knowledge of each other," Diggs said.

The chief adds that other factors have played into the recent murders.

“In some cases the suspects and the victims are involved in some things they shouldn’t be involved in. There aren’t random type acts and we know that. Some of it revolves around illegal activities," Diggs said.

Diggs, however, maintains Toledo is a "safe city” and says that despite the recent killings that murders in the city this year are the same as they were at this time last year. 

 

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