Victim of fatal home invasion was the target of intruders, police say

Crime & Law
By Doug Page
Jan 23, 2012
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DAYTON — Police have discarded the theory that Derick Sturgill was killed in a home invasion in a case of mistaken identity.

Sgt. Dan Mauch, head of the homicide unit, said Sturgill, 28, was the intended target of the Jan. 18 attack at a home in the 500 block of Deeds Avenue.

“He had his own thing going on,” Mauch said, adding the shooting was likely drug-related.

Sturgill died at 7:12 p.m. Friday at Miami Valley Hospital, said Randy Brannon, Montgomery County coroner’s investigator.

Police are searching for three masked men who broke into the home around 10 p.m., beat Sturgill then shot him several times. Given the evidence at the time, detectives at first operated on a theory that the attack was related to a former resident of the address who is awaiting sentencing on a heroin conviction.

Mauch said further investigation concluded the intruders knew the identity of the victim. The sergeant said detectives are following a number of leads.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2290 or dpage@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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Doug Page