Kettering chief: Suspect in deadly gas station shooting charged with murder

The shooting happened around 10:35 p.m. Saturday at the gas station at 2361 S. Smithville Road. Two Kettering police officers were inside after they had stopped to make a routine check of the business.

“Officers exited the building and then observed Ja Leel Brooks, 21 years old from Trotwood, standing between two vehicles by the gas pumps. He was ordered to show his hands, and at that point an officer observed him drop a handgun to the ground,” Protsman said.

After Brooks was taken into custody, Protsman said officers found two shooting victims.

Demarque Young, 22, of Dayton, was shot in the left leg and was treated and released from Kettering Medical Center.

Anthony Gray Jr., 21, of Dayton, was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Protsman said that Brooks, Gray, Young and a woman were traveling in a car driven by Gray. Brooks and Young were backseat passengers, and the woman was in front with Gray. At some point, the chief said, Brooks and Gray began to argue and Gray pulled the car into the BP parking lot. The four remained inside the car for about a minute.

“Ja Leel got out, fired multiple shots through the driver’s window, striking both Gray and Young before he was confronted by the officers,” Protsman said.

Cruiser cameras captured the shooting, the aftermath and the surrender in a one minute, 23 second clip the department provided Monday. One Kettering police vehicle had left the area immediately in front of the shooting scene just about 40 seconds before the shooting. Another police vehicle remained parked there as the officers were inside the store and the shooting took place.

The chief said he did not know what the argument was about, but that police have learned Brooks and Gray were friends.

Brooks is held in the Montgomery County Jail.