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Dayton records 3 homicides in 4 days

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By Lucas Sullivan, Staff Writer Updated 1:13 AM Tuesday, November 10, 2009

DAYTON — Three unrelated homicides in four days in northwest Dayton have detectives chasing leads that have yet to yield any arrests.

The latest victim is Cornelius Maxwell Jr., 40, shot Monday morning, Nov. 9, while warming up his car in the 4700 block of Blueberry Avenue, Dayton Sgt. Gary White said.

Maxwell’s death comes while detectives are trying to sort out the stabbing death of John R. Morgan, 36, and the shooting death of Chad DeWitt, 23. Those homicides occurred hours apart on Friday.

In the Maxwell killing, one gunman approached on foot about 6 a.m. and fired at least 10 shots at close range, White said.

The gunman might have known Maxwell’s routine, White said. Maxwell, who served time in the U.S. Army in the early 1990s, lived with his parents, police said.

“This does not have the appearance of a robbery, so a planned shooting of the victim appears to be the issue,” White said. The suspect may have known the victim’s routine and could have been waiting for the victim to go to his car.”

Maxwell’s mother said she has no idea who would harm her son and said, “My son has been in trouble before, but he was trying to change his life around.” His family declined further comment.

It’s the second similar tragedy for the Maxwell family.

Maxwell’s brother, Eric, was shot and killed in a similar incident in 1997. His slaying remains unsolved.

“That is still an open investigation, but as far as (Cornelius’) investigation, we have some positive leads in the case and are pursuing those,” Lt. Patrick Welsh said.

The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force was called to the scene of Maxwell’s slaying, but police said there is no indication his death is gang-related.

Cornelius Maxwell has no criminal history in Dayton. He spent many years in Wendell, N.C., and Fort Lewis, Wash.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2494  or lsullivan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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