A prominent high school athlete was trying to resolve a conflict early Sunday morning at an apartment complex when he was shot and killed.
The shooting happened at about 2:45 a.m. Sunday in the 2300 block of North Limestone Street.
The victim, 17-year-old Jeff Wellington, was taken by CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital where he died of his injuries. The autopsy was performed this morning and family members have been notified of his death, according to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.
Springfield Police Chief Stephen Moody said Wellington was visiting friends when he apparently tried to mediate a dispute among "several" people out in the parking lot of the Coventry Village apartments. Wellington was not directly involved in the conflict, the chief said. He was shot once by a gunman who fled the scene, said Moody, who called the shooting a "cowardly act."
Wellington was a junior at Springfield High School, where he was a standout running back on the football team.
The head coach at the time, Eric Gillespie, noted Wellington's talents in a 2012 game story for TopBillingSports.com.
"Jeff has a wealth of talent ... He's a great kid and an outstanding athlete," Gillespie said.
Superintendent David Estrop released a statement regarding the student's death.
"We extend our deepest and most sincere condolences to the family of Jeff Wellington, who lost his life early this morning," the statement reads. "He was a student at Springfield High and we will have members of our crisis team, including counselors, available for staff and students. Since this tragic event did not occur at school nor at a school function, and it is subject of an ongoing police investigation, we have no further comment at this time. We are cooperating fully with the Springfield Police Division in this investigation."
Police have not released any further details of the investigation. However, police are asking for the public's help. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call police at (937) 324-7680.
