By Frank Lewis
The Portsmouth Police Department is investigating a double shooting that occurred in the 1800 block of Kendall Avenue early Sunday morning.
At about 2:37 a.m. officers of the police department responded to a call of a female being shot in the head in the area of 1818 Kendall Avenue. Upon arrival officers said they found Christina Hall age 40 of Friendship, Ohio suffering from what appeared to be a superficial bullet wound to her head, just behind her left ear.
Hall reportedly told officers that she had been shot by an attacker she had fought when he tried to sexually assault her. Hall said she met the suspect at a Halloween party at a local bar and had ridden with him to Wayne Hills. Hall told officers once in Wayne Hills the suspect had attempted to rape her and the two had fought.
Hall described the attacker as a white male of skinny build who was not wearing a shirt. Hall said she did not know the attackers name but he had fled the area in a silver car believed to be a Chevrolet Impala.
Hall was transported to Southern Ohio Medical Center for treatment by Portsmouth Ambulance and patrol officers of the Portsmouth Police Department secured the scene and began taking witness statements. Detectives of the Portsmouth Police Department were called out to process the scene and take over the investigation.
At about 5:40 a.m. Portsmouth Police received a call from Joseph Blanton age 38 of Portsmouth. Blanton told police that he had been in Wayne Hills at the time when Hall had been shot. Blanton told officers that he observed a male and female fighting beside a vehicle and attempted to break up the fight. Blanton said when he did the male subject shot him in the ribs with what appeared to be a small caliber handgun.
Officers responded to Blanton’s residence along with a crew from Life Medical Response. Blanton appeared to have a bullet wound to the left side of his ribs and was transported by LMR, to SOMC for his initial treatment and later to a trauma unit out of the area.
Detective’s of the Portsmouth Police Department have identified and interviewed the shooter. There has been no arrest made at this point and the investigation is continuing. Both Blanton and Hall are expected to recover from their injuries.
Portsmouth Police Operations Captain Lynn Brewer said, with the statements of both victims and the witnesses, along with the statement of the shooter and the physical evidence gathered at the scene, indications are that the case would be better served by being presented directly to a Scioto County grand jury for consideration of charges.
Reach Frank Lewis at 740-353-3101, ext. 1928, or on Twitter @franklewis.
