A Meigs County resident was murdered early yesterday morning during a presumed drug-related dispute in New Marshfield.
Five adults and a teen attempted a burglary at a house on New Marshfield Road about nine miles away from Athens City.
The residents engaged in a shoot-out with the burglars outside the house at about 12:30 a.m.
Donnie Putman, 39, was shot in the chest when he arrived at the house, though he was not involved with the initial shoot-out. He died at O'Bleness Memorial Hospital shortly after he was transported, said Detective Jack Taylor.
Phillip Boler, from New Marshfield, and Columbus residents Mohamud Jama and Abdi Abdifatah were charged with murder and aggravated robbery. Nelsonville resident Eric Fussner and Columbus resident Hamda Jama were charged with aggravated robbery. Fussner has had several criminal charges in Athens County, including a previous theft charge, according to Athens Municipal Court records.
A 17-year-old was also involved, but authorities cannot release his name this early in the investigation because he is a juvenile.
I believe this is drug-related
said Athens County Sheriff Pat Kelly. And it is the start of a major problem for us.
Ohio State Highway Patrol officers caught the suspects after they fled the scene, wrecked their car about three-quarters of a mile down the road and took off on foot, Kelly said.
The four adults were moved to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail yesterday and the teen will be detained at a juvenile detention center outside the county, Kelly said. The adults will appear in Athens Municipal Court at 9 a.m. tomorrow, according to a news release.
Two search warrants have been issued, one for the residence where the shooting took place and another at a house on Marshfield Road.
The sheriff's narcotics unit has had the house on New Marshfield Road under surveillance since Kelly took office in January, Taylor said.
Athens County has a major drug problem Kelly said. I get three to four calls every day (from people) asking me to bust the dealer living next to them.
About 87 percent of the inmates at the regional jail have drug-related charges, he added.
cm430506@ohiou.edu
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Caitlin McGlade
