TheeBadOne
August 2, 2003, 03:01 PM
Some residents in the 2600 block of Lynn Avenue thought they heard fireworks Thursday afternoon. But those bangs turned out to be shots from a shotgun - leaving the victim hurt and the suspected shooter dead.
While police aren't releasing many details about the double shooting, most neighbors said they saw the same thing: A man apparently shot his next-door neighbor in an alley behind the house at 2613 Lynn Ave. The suspected shooter, 59-year-old Donald E. Sovine, is believed to have lived at that address having a white picket fence, green shrubs and white house with turquoise shutters. The victim, Travis Martin, 32, lived next door at 2617 Lynn.
Sovine is thought to have shot Martin once in the right arm and again in the back before turning the gun on himself - ending in his death, said neighbor Tim Pinkerton.
The Allen County coroner is expected to determine the cause of Sovine's death today. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Martin remained in fair condition this morning at a local hospital.
Pinkerton, who lives a block north on Dodge Avenue, was in his living room when he heard two shots. The noise brought him to his feet and the front door, where he saw Martin running toward him, leaving behind a trail of blood.
"I thought it was fireworks at first, but I know the sound (of a shotgun), and that's not a noise you hear in a residential area," Pinkerton said. "(The victim) said he was painting a truck for his neighbor and he said that was who had shot him." Pinkerton helped wrap towels around Martin's wounds and called 911.
In a driveway just off the alley sat a gold Chevy pickup that Karen McMeekin, an across-the-street neighbor, said belonged to Sovine.
Police confirmed an argument took place immediately before the shooting, but did not specify about what. Police spokeswoman Robin Thompson said witnesses are being interviewed about that.
Nick Bollinger, who moved into the 2600 block of Lynn two weeks ago, said he saw Sovine shoot the gun in the alley, then go back toward his house.
Laura Toam, 20, of the 2600 block of Lynn, ran out of her house after she heard the shots and saw Sovine on the ground. She said Sovine's girlfriend of about 20 years was at the scene.
McMeekin said Sovine was a "wonderful neighbor and a good friend" who helped her husband build a wheelchair ramp leading to her front door.
"He took great pride in his yard," McMeekin said. "He helped my husband mow the yard a couple of weeks ago."
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/local/6384392.htm
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Not the kind of neighbor anyone would want! It's scary to think who may 'really' be living next door. A mowed lawn and painted house don't tell the whole tale of who's inside. These stories allways have a neighbor quoting, "He was a good man"...
While police aren't releasing many details about the double shooting, most neighbors said they saw the same thing: A man apparently shot his next-door neighbor in an alley behind the house at 2613 Lynn Ave. The suspected shooter, 59-year-old Donald E. Sovine, is believed to have lived at that address having a white picket fence, green shrubs and white house with turquoise shutters. The victim, Travis Martin, 32, lived next door at 2617 Lynn.
Sovine is thought to have shot Martin once in the right arm and again in the back before turning the gun on himself - ending in his death, said neighbor Tim Pinkerton.
The Allen County coroner is expected to determine the cause of Sovine's death today. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Martin remained in fair condition this morning at a local hospital.
Pinkerton, who lives a block north on Dodge Avenue, was in his living room when he heard two shots. The noise brought him to his feet and the front door, where he saw Martin running toward him, leaving behind a trail of blood.
"I thought it was fireworks at first, but I know the sound (of a shotgun), and that's not a noise you hear in a residential area," Pinkerton said. "(The victim) said he was painting a truck for his neighbor and he said that was who had shot him." Pinkerton helped wrap towels around Martin's wounds and called 911.
In a driveway just off the alley sat a gold Chevy pickup that Karen McMeekin, an across-the-street neighbor, said belonged to Sovine.
Police confirmed an argument took place immediately before the shooting, but did not specify about what. Police spokeswoman Robin Thompson said witnesses are being interviewed about that.
Nick Bollinger, who moved into the 2600 block of Lynn two weeks ago, said he saw Sovine shoot the gun in the alley, then go back toward his house.
Laura Toam, 20, of the 2600 block of Lynn, ran out of her house after she heard the shots and saw Sovine on the ground. She said Sovine's girlfriend of about 20 years was at the scene.
McMeekin said Sovine was a "wonderful neighbor and a good friend" who helped her husband build a wheelchair ramp leading to her front door.
"He took great pride in his yard," McMeekin said. "He helped my husband mow the yard a couple of weeks ago."
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/local/6384392.htm
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Not the kind of neighbor anyone would want! It's scary to think who may 'really' be living next door. A mowed lawn and painted house don't tell the whole tale of who's inside. These stories allways have a neighbor quoting, "He was a good man"...