Two dead following early morning shooting in Lorain

Two individuals are dead following gunfire that broke out near downtown Lorain early Sunday morning. According to the Lorain Police Department, the two individuals — an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old — were found to be suffering from gunshot wounds at approximately 3 a.m. after emergency personnel responded to reports of a shooting at a residence along Washington Avenue. "Despite receiving immediate medical attention, both victims were pronounced deceased at the scene," Capt. Jacob A. Morris, public information officer for the Lorain Police Department, said in a statement Sunday. Emergency personnel were dispatched to 725 Washington Ave. The State Highway Patrol also responded to the incident to assist with traffic and scene control, according to Lt. Ray Santiago of the State Highway Patrol. The Lorain Police Department indicated that the incident took place at a short-term rental where a gathering of multiple individuals was taking place. "Preliminary investigation indicates the incident occurred during a gathering at a residence operating as a short-term rental," Morris stated. "An argument escalated into an altercation, resulting in gunfire inside the residence and on the exterior staircase." Officers located Alexander Gibbons, 19, and took him into custody, according to the Lorain Police Department's statement. "Detectives have secured several firearms, shell casings, and additional physical evidence from the scene," Morris stated. "All information gathered to this point suggests this was an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the public." Gibbons currently faces multiple charges related to the incident, including felonious assault, discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises — such as discharging the weapon into a home — and using weapons while intoxicated, according to the Lorain Police Department. Gibbons is currently being held in the Lorain County Jail, and additional charges may be brought against the 19-year-old at a later time. "The investigation remains active, and the identities of the deceased are currently being withheld pending notification of next of kin," Morris stated. The Lorain Police Department encouraged any individual with information potentially connected to Sunday morning's shooting to contact the Lorain Police Department Detective Bureau at 440-204-2105. Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@chroniclet.com.