Canal Winchester grieving 3 homicide victims, including two school-age kids
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The loss of two children and a young adult is hitting the community near Canal Winchester hard, especially during the holidays.
Police called the three homicides “targeted” and not random.
Demetrius Wall’Neal, 9, and Londynn Wall’Neal, 6 were shot to death Tuesday in a parked car driven by Charles Wade, 22.
Detectives call the siblings “beautiful children.” Columbus Police said it is not clear if the person who shot and killed the brother and sister knew they were in the car with Wade at the Winchester Lakes apartments.
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Stephanie Brown is a neighbor in the complex was waiting for the school bus with her kindergarten-age son. “It just made me give my kids a bigger hug last night. It’s real sad,” said Brown.
Asked what the community could do for the family and loved ones Brown said “just rally together and pray for them.”
Don Miller, a Canal Winchester resident, said homicides of children “just isn’t right.”
“We need more police officers. We need people to step up to the front of the community. That is what we need. We need people to enforce the laws, not make new ones,” said Miller.
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“The citizens should get involved as well. Report things they see. Someone had to see that happen,” Miller said. So far, no arrests have been made in the case.
Family members said they are grieving the loss.
Brown said it is especially sad that Demetrius and Londynn won’t be able to celebrate the holiday like other kids.
“Think about Christmas, Santa Claus, that is it. Their biggest worry was what the Elf on a Shelf was gonna do, just so sad,” Brown said.
School district leaders said they are shocked and heartbroken at the loss of the children. Counselors were available in all school buildings on Wednesday.
