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WHEELING -- Two shooting deaths days apart in the local area have law enforcement agencies working overtime.
In Wheeling, 41-year-old Ahmid Salem Hinton, was shot multiple times by an unknown assailant on Wheeling Island early Tuesday morning. He died during emergency surgery at Ohio Valley Medical Center at about 5 a.m.
Meanwhile, Bellaire police continue to search for leads in the shooting death of a Bellaire man found dead in his home on Sunday. Relatives found Brad McGarry, 43, in his basement at 358 Wagner St. in West Bellaire at about 6 p.m. Sunday.
During a press conference in Wheeling on Tuesday, Detective Gregg McKenzie said he could not rule out that the shootings were related, but he said in both cases it appears the victims were targeted.
"I don't believe we have people just running around and shooting people on the street at random. These were not random shootings," McKenzie said.
Wheeling police on patrol responded to the area of 7 S. Penn St. at about 1:40 a.m. Tuesday after hearing shots fired, according to Wheeling police spokesman Philip Stahl. Officers found Hinton on the sidewalk. He had been shot multiple times. Hinton was able to tell officers that an unknown male approached him in a vehicle from the intersection of South Penn and Virginia streets. The gunman got out of his vehicle, approached Hinton and shot him multiple times, according to Hinton, who said the shooter then got back into his car and fled north on South Penn Street then onto Zane Street.
Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said officers are following several leads, but he also does not believe this was a random shooting.
"We have recovered multiple pieces of evidence and seized a couple of vehicles," he said.
"I have had enough of the gun violence. It's not necessary," Schwertfeger added. "I am confident with the quality and skill of the men and women of the Wheeling Police Department that we will have a solution soon."
No suspect has been identified, but investigators believe the shooter is a male who fled in a dark-colored, possibly blue, sedan.
Schwertfeger said police were familiar with Hinton but did not say whether he had a police record. He said Hinton had been in Wheeling for some time and was formerly a Cleveland resident. He said the shooting was the third such incident at 7 S. Penn Street; a home invasion occurred there in 2015. However, the chief does not believe the incidents at that address are related, as various families have resided at the location over the years.
Schwertfeger said he was proud of the police officers who responded to the morning shooting.
"They worked hard trying to save his (Hinton's) life," he said.
When asked if extra patrols have been assigned to Wheeling Island, Schwertfeger said he could always use more police officers.