DARKE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
NEWS RELEASE

March 13, 2025 7:15 PM
Contact: Sheriff Mark Whittaker
Phone: 937-548-3399

DARKE COUNTY SHERIFF INVESTIGATES SHOOTING INCIDENT AND DEATH

Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker reports that his office is investigating a shooting incident that started at a residence in the 2500 block of State Route 571 west of Greenville, Ohio and ended with two vehicles crashing into a field in the 9600 block of Coletown-Lightsville Road.

On Thursday March 13, 2025 at 2:23 PM, the Darke County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a subject reporting he had been shot by a friend at a residence in the 2500 block of State Route 571. The adult male victim reported he was being chased and shot at by the suspect in a vehicle while traveling north bound on Coletown-Lightsville Road. Darke County Deputies and Union City Police Officers responded to the area for a shooting incident in progress.

The suspect rammed the victim’s vehicle multiple times eventually causing both vehicles to crash out into a field. The suspect rolled his SUV multiple times and was ejected from the vehicle. Union City Police Officers arrived on the scene soon after the crash and called for Union City Fire & EMS and Careflight to respond. The suspect was found unconscious and not breathing in the field. Union City Fire/EMS declared the adult male shooting suspect dead at the scene.

The victim who was being chased and shot was treated by Union City Fire & EMS at the scene and was transported by Careflight to Miami Valley Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. There were no other occupants in either vehicle during this incident.

Because of this call, deputies responded simultaneously to the suspect’s residence in the 2500 block of St RT 571 where the shooting incident started. Darke County deputies searched the residence and discovered an adult female deceased in the house. This case is being investigated as a homicide pending determination by the Darke County Coroner.

Darke County Deputies, Detectives and Darke County Coroner’s Investigator are actively investigating both scenes at the time of this release. Preliminary information suggests that both scenes are related. While it is early in the investigation, we do not believe there is any further active threat to the public. Follow up media releases will be provided as more information becomes available.

Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker thanks the Union City Police Officers and Fire/EMS units who rapidly responded to assist the Darke County Deputies during a dangerous and rapidly evolving scene. No other citizens were injured because of this incident.


Mark E. Whittaker,
Sheriff
Darke County Sheriff’s Office
937-548-3399