Police: Neighbor shot, killed man attacking woman with ax

6/13/2018
BY JAVONTE ANDERSON
BLADE STAFF WRITER
  • CTY-Shooting-33

    Toledo Scientific Investigation Detectives Scott Smith, left, and Scott Mills take a second look at the scene of a fatal shooting Wednesday, June 13, 2018, near the intersection of Nelson and Lodge avenues in South Toledo.

    The Blade/Katie Rausch
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  • An ax-wielding man attacking a woman inside a pickup truck was shot and killed by a neighbor who intervened in a suspected South Toledo domestic dispute, police said.

    Lt. Kevan Toney said the shooter told police he saw the man strike a woman with an ax or hatchet inside a vehicle shortly after noon Wednesday on Nelson Avenue, just east of Lodge Avenue. The neighbor intervened and shot the man, identified as Bernard Neyland, 59, of Toledo.

    The woman, identified as Lakita Wilson, 53, of Toledo, suffered multiple cuts. She later received treatment for her injuries.

    Neyland attacked Ms. Wilson with a hatchet when Benjamin Hand, a nearby resident, witnessed the assault taking place, police said. Mr. Hand then shot the assailant.

    Neyland was taken to the University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:55 p.m., said Dr. James Patrick, Lucas County coroner. 

    He suffered at least one gunshot wound in his shoulder. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

    The relationship between the Neyland and Ms. Wilson is unknown at this time.

    Mr. Hand is being interviewed by detectives and the investigation is ongoing, police said.

    Neighbors described hearing a gunshot and going outside, then seeing a man shot inside a white pickup truck. One man, who did not want to be identified, said the woman was screaming for help before the shooting. He said he believed the shooter saved the woman’s life.

    Blood stained the middle of the street near the scene of the shooting Wednesday afternoon. Toledo police towed a white Chevrolet pickup truck from the location at about 2:15 p.m. and two detectives were on scene investigating the incident, which is still under investigation.

    A similar incident occurred in April when Daniel Kirby of Toledo fatally shot Charles White during a domestic disturbance.

    Mr. White was involved in a dispute with a woman at her apartment in the 3000 block of Marvin Avenue when Mr. Kirby entered with a handgun to "calm the disturbance down," and fired a single shot at Mr. White, according to a court affidavit.

    A Lucas County grand jury rejected a murder charge for Mr. Kirby and indicted him on a less serious charge of reckless homicide with a gun specification. Reckless homicide is a third-degree felony punishable by up to three years in prison. The gun specification also carries a three-year penalty.

    Anyone with information should call the Crime Stopper program at 419-255-1111.

    Staff writer Jay Skebba contributed to this report.

    Contact Javonte Anderson at janderson@theblade.com419-724-6065, or on Twitter @JavonteA.