Sheriff: Consider this man 'armed and dangerous'

CELINA, Ohio (WDTN) - The 9-year-old son of the woman shot to death Thursday in Rockford, Ohio was at home with his mom when the killing took place, according to Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey at a news conference in Celina Friday morning.

Grey said officers were called to Melinda Shinn's West North Street home around 11 a.m. Nov. 8, and found Shinn's body, apparently shot to death. Neighbors had called and reported Shinn and 40-year-old Daniel Charles Martin were fighting.

Authorities are still searching for Martin. The 1998 Ford Explorer they believe he was driving was found in Fort Wayne on Thursday, however Martin was not with the vehicle.  

Grey said Ohio authorities are working closely with the Fort Wayne Police Department and they have learned that Martin has family in Fort Wayne.

Grey cautioned that Martin should be considered armed and dangerous.

It was not the first time officers had gone to the home on a domestic violence call, according to Grey.

He said Shinn's son is safe and in the care of family members and that Martin is not the boy's father.

Neighbors are in disbelief this would happen so close to home.

"It's just depressing to think about how close this kind of violence can be to your home," said Len Archibald, who lives across the street from Shinn's home.

Anyone with information on Martin's whereabouts is asked to call the Mercer County Sheriff's Office at 419-586-7724.