A Trotwood pastor and his congregation, horrified that a shooting occurred across from their edifice Monday night, are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction for the person or persons involved in the “gun battle” that left a 23-year-old man dead.
The reward amount will remain private and will only be made known to the congregation and those who come forward with information, Elder Norman Scearce III, Gateway Cathedral Church of God in Christ, told News Center 7’s John Bedell on Tuesday evening.
Scearce and the congregation posted an announcement about the reward seemingly minutes after the shooting in front of Pippin's Market, in the 5300 block of Olive Road, that left Jerron McDowell dead.
Scearce said part of the reason the congregation considered a reward is because “this is part of the vineyard we consider our territory. We cannot, by any means, have something like that go down in front of our church and not react and not respond.”
The church has been in the city since 2014, he said, and has performed community outreach focused on children such as a book bag giveaway. He said when he realized the shooting occurred right across from the edifice, the pastor said he was moved to action.
“We will not tolerate this in our community,” Scearce said. “Just as the church is committed to community outreach… just like we give bookbags to the students here that live in the community. We are just as committed to make sure those kids stay safe.”
Scearce noted, “Trotwood doesn’t have any more crime than any other surrounding communities, not Huber Heights, not Clayton, not Jefferson Township, not Dayton. So I don’t want the media to portray us as this, out and out, city of despair.”
The bullets sent flying Monday night could have hit neighborhood children, he said. “We want to be certain that just because two grown men have a disagreement, doesn’t mean that they have to respond in such a manner.”
Tuesday evening, the minister added to the campaign via an updated Facebook post.
“As a local assembly our reach doesn’t go as far as Missouri, Texas, New York or Oklahoma. But, when you kill someone in front of our church, it is our responsibility and duty to respond! We will continue to be proactive in our efforts to Engage, Impact and Influence our community,” he wrote.
Scearce is asking that if you have information about the shooting, please call Trotwood police at 837-777 or 937-225-HELP.
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