The shooting took place around 2 a.m. at the Shell station on West Third Street near Gettysburg Avenue, but police were not notified until around 5 a.m. A gas station attendant hit the silent alarm for police after seeing a person around the Chevrolet Suburban, where police found the two victims inside.
“Just before 5 a.m. this man along with our suspect returned to the scene prior to police arrival and began to tamper with evidence in the vehicle with our deceased victims inside,” Johns said.
Johns said there were two visits to the gas station during which people looked at the Suburban.
“One individual who does not appear to be our suspect in this comes to the gas station, pulls up, walks over and surveys the scene and sees our victims inside the vehicle and then leaves,” he said. “A short time later another vehicle shows up, a black Chrysler, at which time [the person of interest] gets out of the car and is joined by our suspect and tampered with the Suburban with our victims still inside.”
Johns said Monday it was one of the most brutal murders he’s seen.
“The whole lack of humanity to do that,” he said Tuesday. “To them it was like a spectacle, which is really hard to take.”
Police are continuing to investigate a motive into the deaths, but Johns said it did not appear to be a robbery.
The man was in the back seat of the Suburban when the shooting took place. It’s not clear how the suspect knew the victims, but police believe he may have left a club with the women before they arrived together at the gas station.
There were three other vehicles in parking lot at the time of the shooting. None of the occupants called 911, and at least one vehicle fled.
Those with information can submit tips at 937-333-COPS (2677) or Miami Valley Crime Stoppers at 937-222-STOP (7867).
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