Unanswered questions linger in Jan. 1 fatal shooting

ELYRIA — Authorities are continuing to investigate an early morning shooting Jan. 1 that claimed the life of 28-year-old Dominique Anderson. Police have yet to provide an update on the case and continue to say the investigation into Anderson's death is ongoing. Police reports about the incident — requested repeatedly — have not been provided to The Chronicle-Telegram. Police were called to the scene of 2 Kerstetter Way at about 3:35 a.m. for a male who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds outside. Anderson was pronounced dead at UH Elyria Medical Center. According to Lorain County Coroner Dr. Frank Miller, Anderson was killed after suffering two gunshot wounds at an after-hours party. Anderson was shot in the arm and abdomen from a distance, Anderson said. Elyria Police Lt. Bill Lantz said the call initially came through as a self-defense shooting involving a security officer. Investigators are still looking at that possibility, he said. Mobile data terminal messages exchanged by Elyria police personnel on the morning of the shooting obtained by The Chronicle-Telegram as part of a public records request revealed details into the response. In a message at 5:59 a.m., police personnel indicated the victim later identified as Anderson was shot by a security officer. Another message sent at 6:17 a.m. police personnel, in response to a question of how many people were shot, indicated the possibility of a second victim. "1 maybe 2. 1 was on scene and transported to EMH (Elyria Medical Center) and pronounced. Then LPD (Lorain Police Department) called and said they had a GSW (gunshot wound) victim at Mercy that they thought was related to our shooting. So possibly 2. DB (detective bureau) was going out to Mercy to talk to him." Second Victim Lantz said on Thursday that 29-year-old Terrell Taylor of Lorain was involved in an altercation with a second unnamed adult male victim outside 2 Kerstetter Way just prior to the shooting. Police say Taylor was observed assaulting the unnamed victim, knocking him unconscious. Shortly thereafter, Taylor and other subjects in the area reported hearing gun shots. Taylor then left the area and realized he had been shot, he told police. Taylor drove himself to the Mercy hospital in Lorain where he was treated for a gunshot wound to his leg and was later released. Elyria police have not said if Taylor was shot by the same individual(s) as Anderson. A felonious assault charge was filed Jan. 7 against Taylor, and a warrant was issued. On Jan. 13, detectives from the Elyria Police Department located and arrested Terrell Taylor in Lorain. On Wednesday, city of Elyria prosecutors dismissed the charge after the assault victim failed to appear for a preliminary hearing in Elyria Municipal Court. Court officials said charges could be refiled in Lorain County Common Pleas Court. According to a separate report from the Lorain Police Department, Taylor arrived at Mercy Health-Lorain Hospital at approximately 4 a.m. In an interview with Lorain police investigators, Taylor said while driving in an unknown location he noticed he was shot in leg after leaving an unknown bar near the Elyria Police Department. Lorain police investigators noted Taylor was intoxicated during the interview and could not provide any additional details on the incident. Elyria police and city officials have declined requests from The Chronicle-Telegram for a copy of the incident report, citing the ongoing investigation. Prosecutor Scott Strait said Wednesday the full report on the Jan. 1 assault incident could not be released other than a very basic narrative because it is an active and ongoing investigation, with the report containing information on sources and information they are not ready to release yet that will be reviewed by a Lorain County grand jury. Elyria Law Director Amanda Deery noted city policy on police records mirrors state law on the issue. "Generally speaking, law enforcement records are typically redacted or withheld due to what is known as the 'CLEIRS' exception — Confidential Law Enforcement Investigatory Records exception, in which the identity of an uncharged suspect being revealed could compromise an investigation, the naming of a witness or victim could compromise their safety or that of law enforcement personnel or a confidential informant, or specific investigative techniques or investigatory work product were at high risk of being exposed. The Elyria Police Department is investigating this incident and asks that anyone with any information to contact Detective Zack Kasperovich (440) 326-1213 or zkasperovich@cityofelyria.org. Contact Kevin Martin at 329-7121 or kmartin@chroniclet.com.