COLUMBUS, Ohio — Streets throughout Circleville are riddled with blankets, plastic tarps and trash bags draped over vehicle windows.
Kathy Kempton has lived in Circleville all her life. The last eight years she’s lived on East Union Street.
Wednesday night, her vehicle was one of many this week that was a victim of drive-by shootings.
“There’s a hole right there,” she said, pointing at her vehicle’s back glass. “They shot it twice. I know seven cars down this way got it.”
Video given to 10TV by a homeowner, who did not want to be identified, shows a vehicle going through Elsea Mobile Village. You can hear what sounds like a loud pop as the vehicle turns away from their home.
Clinton Spadaro also lives there and says damage to his car happened last week and he is being forced to pay for it.
“I mean there’s glass everywhere,” Spadaro said. “Frustration. It’s nerve-racking.”
For Spadaro the bigger problem is that the vandalism is also happening to homes where children sleep.
“That’s what terrifies me the most,” he said. “These innocent children living in these homes.”
The Circleville Police Department posted to Facebook on Thursday saying in two days upwards of 40 vandalism reports have come in. The department also posted a picture showing a newer model Dodge Charger SXT, saying it’s been spotted in several pieces of surveillance footage.
Police say the occupants are believed to be juveniles and are using a weapon that shoots some sort of clear marble. Police estimate the shootings have caused thousands of dollars in damages.
“I just got it,” Kempton said of her vehicle. “[I] don’t even have insurance on it, so it’s gonna come out of my pocket.”
Kempton says she has installed a security system. So has Spadaro. They want to catch those responsible, soon.
“It’s gotta end,” she said. “Quickly.”
If you have any information about the shootings you can call Circleville police at (740) 474-8888.