Dayton, Ohio

From Dayton’s WHIOtv.com of March 27, 2006

Police: Overnight Altercation Leads To Fatal Shooting

Police in Dayton are investigating a fatal shooting that happened at an apartment complex on Burkhardt Avenue on Sunday night. Investigators said the shooting may have been in self-defense.

According to people at the scene, the shooting victim was going from apartment to apartment in a rage, banging on doors after allegedly hitting and threatening his girlfriend.

On Monday, the coroner released the victim’s identity. He is William Abrams II, 33, and lived with his girlfriend and daughter at the apartment complex where he was found dead.

Police said earlier in the evening, Abrams was banging on residents’ doors looking for his daughter and threatening people. His girlfriend, who claims Abrams beat her, called her ex-husband to the apartment to help her.

Investigators said the ex-husband confronted Abrams, who he claimed had a knife. Police said he ended up shooting Abrams.

Abrams was found in a hallway of one of the apartment buildings. A 911 dispatcher told the ex-boyfriend to unload his gun and to go outside and meet police with his hands up. He surrendered, was questioned and released.

Detectives plan to meet with prosecutors to determine if the shooting was in self-defense.