911 caller reports hearing 30 to 40 shots in Springfield incident that killed grandmother

Credit: File photo

Credit: File photo

A Springfield grandmother died after her West Liberty Street residence was struck with gunfire on Sunday, and one 911 caller said he heard more than 30 shots fired in the area, according to dispatch records.

Racquel Fowler, 53, died after the shooting around 2:20 a.m. Sunday in the 300 block of West Liberty Street that left one other person injured.

On Monday evening, police charged a Springfield man – William Calhoun, 40 – with aggravated murder, attempted murder and other counts in connection to Sunday’s shooting, according to court records.

Four people called emergency services to report gunshots fired through the area.

One 911 caller told a dispatcher he saw a dark-colored SUV speed away from the area after firing 30 to 40 shots at a house.

“You can hear someone down the street… screaming in the house,” he said. “I got woke up to it. I’m pretty sure they shot up a house, I’m pretty sure.”

“We’re taking multiple, multiple calls,” the dispatcher told the caller.

A man calling from inside the house told dispatchers that he was the grandson of Fowler and that he needed help, as his grandmother wasn’t breathing. Other people could be heard screaming in the background.

“Hurry up, please,” he said. “I can’t lose my grandma, I can’t.”

“I’ve got help coming to you, OK?” the dispatcher said. “I know this is hard.”

Fowler was shot twice in her upper thigh area and once in her lower left chest area, according to a Springfield incident report. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 29-year-old man also in the house suffered a gunshot to the lower back. He was taken to Springfield Regional Medical Center and later transferred to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton with non-life threatening injuries, according to the incident report.

Another caller contacted dispatchers that morning to report a vehicle crash in the area of North Limestone Street near a car parts shop. She told dispatchers she heard multiple gunshots in the area shortly before hearing a car crash.

Police on Sunday said they were looking into whether a crash on North Limestone and Ward streets was connected to the shooting. An incident report for the West Liberty Street shooting states officers believe the shooting is linked to a burglary case in the 2000 block of Beatrice Street.

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