Jan. 17—ASHTABULA — Two men were recently indicted by a county grand jury for their alleged roles in an October drive-by shooting on West Avenue.
Naulige Able Cahill, of Geneva, and Kevelin Emmanuel Wells, of Ashtabula, were each charged with six counts of felonious assault with fire arm specifications and a drive by shooting specification, according to Ashtabula County Court records.
Wells and Cahill were also charged with Discharge of A Firearm on or Near Prohibited Premises and Improperly Handling firearms in a Motor Vehicle following an Oct. 27, 2024 incident on West Avenue near 34th Street in Ashtabula.
The firearm specifications alone can include penalties of three years in prison, and the drive-by specification can carry a five-year prison sentence.
Ashtabula Police Department Lt. Michael Palinkas said 40 shell casings were found near the site of the shooting, which did not result in any injuries.
“The case is still open, and we are anticipating added charges,” he said.
Palinkas said the incident occurred while a car carrying Wells and Cahill chased another vehicle north on West Avenue, and began shooting at the second vehicle. A third vehicle was also shot at during the incident, he said.
“It [the shooting] is a major concern for us,” Palinkas said.
He said the community is fortunate no one was shot. On the day of the shooting, West Avenue was blocked as officers investigated the incident and catalogued the evidence.
“We believe this incident started about two blocks away,” Palinkas said.
The motive for the shooting is still under investigation, as is the type of gun used in the incident, he said.
Palinkas said the incident came on the heels of numerous summer shootings that involved juveniles and young adults. Several suspects were charged in June after three shooting incidents occurred within two days.
He said the June shootings are still under investigation, as well.