Police were dispatched to the Nite Owl around midnight on West Main Street for a shots fired with injuries call. When they arrived, it was apparent the two victims weren’t shot, but they’d been struck by a vehicle. Police said they believe the incident was intentional.
One of the victims, Gohl’s daughter, Amber Vollmer, 30, said the incident started when she, her brother, Joey Gohl, 23, and her boyfriend went to the Nite Owl late Friday night.
Kelli Gohl said she was watching Vollmer’s two children while the group went out. She said Vollmer always calls and checks in, but going into Saturday morning — she hadn’t heard from her and got worried.
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“I get real nervous when they go out, because I know how crazy it is out here but she always calls and checks on the kids,” Gohl said.
Witness statements from the police report indicate that a car deliberately slammed into Vollmer and Gohl and sped away from the scene with another car following behind it.
Two 911 calls dispatched around 12 a.m. Saturday described the chaotic scene. In one call, a man — presumably Joey Gohl — can be heard trying to wake his sister up from unconsciousness.
“Amber! Amber, please look at me! Look at me, Amber!,” the caller yells.
In another 911 call from a bar patron, the caller describes Vollmer laying on the ground, not moving or breathing.
Vollmer said she had to be resuscitated at the scene by emergency crews.
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Kelli Gohl said she started to get calls of her own.
“Around midnight I was getting back-to-back-to-back phone calls saying stuff that happened to the kids,” she said. “I lost it. I didn’t know what to do or what to say.”
Vollmer and Joey Gohl were transported to Springfield Regional Medical Center and taken by CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital for their injuries.
A third victim suffered minor physical injuries. Their car was also damaged in the crash.
The incident is causing severe repercussions for both of Kelli Gohl’s children, she said.
“My kids have a long road to recovery, and this just ain’t fair to them or their babies,” Gohl said.
Vollmer said she has a broken shoulder, broken pelvic bone and a broken hip. It’s possible she might need skin grafting or plastic surgery as part of her recovery, she said.
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She has two children — a 5-year-old and a 4-month-old. Vollmer said she’s left her children in the care of their grandmother, Kelli Gohl, while she’s in the hospital.
Gohl said she had to quit her job so she could take care of Vollmer’s kids — and her own children once they’re released.
Vollmer said it’s possible after she gets out of the hospital, she may need to spend time in a nursing home.
“I can’t even hold my daughter,” Vollmer said. “I would never wish this upon anybody.”
Vollmer said Joey Gohl is also suffering from multiple injuries.
“He’s got pretty much every bone and every nerve in his legs are done. They’re saying he may never walk again,” Vollmer said.
Kelli Gohl is trying to stay optimistic that the person who did this to her children will be punished.
“I’m trying to look at it the good way — that the police will handle it,” she said. “I hope they go get (them) and (they) have to pay for what (they) just did.”
Police have identified a suspect, but that person is not currently in custody.