Toledo, Ohio

From the Toledo Blade of January 25, 2006

Man arrested for alleged role in home invasion

A Sylvania man was arrested yesterday for his alleged role in a Springfield Township home invasion that resulted in Lucas County's first homicide of 2006.

Michael Madrid, 24, of 6500 Cornwall Ct., was charged with one count of complicity to aggravated robbery. He was being held in the Lucas County jail pending arraignment in Sylvania Municipal Court.

The Lucas County Sheriff's Office said several people entered 8965 Old Airport Hwy. about midnight Friday through a back door and confronted the renter, Josh Bennett, 21, and his girlfriend.

One of the suspects fired two shots; Mr. Bennett fired back, hitting two of the suspects - John Reece, Jr., 29, of Toledo, who was shot in the back and died Friday morning in the Medical University of Ohio Medical Center from extensive internal bleeding, and Brandon Klein, 24, of North Toledo, who was shot in the thigh and buttocks and treated at MUO Medical Center.

Mr. Madrid is one of three people charged in the home invasion. Six people are believed to be involved. Jose Juan Hernandez, 24, of Toledo, and Mr. Klein were both charged with one count of aggravated robbery.

No charges have been filed in the homicide.

From the Toledo Blade of January 27, 2006

5 are indicted after death of alleged crime partner

Five men whose alleged accomplice was shot and killed when they exchanged gunfire with the occupants of a home they were allegedly attempting to rob of drugs and money were charged yesterday in the man's death, authorities said.

A Lucas County grand jury handed up indictments in the Jan. 20 fatal shooting of John Reece, Jr., 29, and the break-in and robbery at a residence in Springfield Township where Reece and another man were shot.

Jose J. Hernandez, 24, of 453 1/2 Walden Ave.; Brandon Klein, 24, of 1021 Ontario St.; Michael Madrid, 24, of 6500 Cornwall Court, Sylvania; Brian Hartford, 31, of 452 Walden; and William Klink, 25, of 1950 Ashcroft Drive, were indicted on one count each of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery, and aggravated burglary.

Reece, of 871 Colburn St., and Mr. Klein were shot when they and the four other defendants entered a house at 8965 Old Airport Hwy. with the intention, authorities said, of robbing the occupants of drugs and money.

County sheriff's detectives said the intruders confronted Josh Bennett, 21, and his girlfriend, Jody Lnu, pointing a gun and firing two shots, one of which went through the front window.

Detectives said Mr. Bennett grabbed a 357-caliber handgun and returned fire, hitting Reece in the back and Mr. Klein, who was struck in the buttocks and thigh.
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He said a decision hasn't been made whether to seek charges against Mr. Bennett for the shootings.

"I think it is highly unlikely that a grand jury would indict someone for shooting someone in their own house, especially after someone shoots at them," Mr. Weglian said.

However, Reece's father, John Reece, said he believes the person responsible for firing the gun that killed his son should be charged.

"In my opinion, he was in the wrong, too," he said.