20-year-old dead, 2 more injured after downtown Painesville shooting

PAINESVILLE, Ohio (WOIO) - A 20-year-old is dead after a shooting in downtown Painesville Saturday evening.

According to Painesville Police, Wyllyam James Sheffey, Jr. from Ashtabula was found dead in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in the intersection of N State Street and Rockwood Drive around 8 p.m.

“Detectives are processing a large volume of information and evidence of this ongoing investigation,” a release from Painesville Police said.

In a video posted to Facebook Monday evening, Painesville Police Chief Dan Waterman also said two additional people were injured in the shooting.

“We recognize that this was not a random act of violence,” Waterman said. “And as such, there was no ongoing threat to the community.”

Witnesses told 19 News they heard dozens of shots coming from the intersection Saturday night.

“People were screaming and crying,” he said. “I live in this community. I’ve lived here for five years. We’ve never really seen anything like this go on. You know, Painesville is a close-knit town. Everybody knows each other, and for this to happen in our community is just insane.”

Police will not say if there are other victims in the shooting.

Painesville Police said no arrests have been made.

Sheffey Jr.’s mother, Tiffany Phillips, said her son was a joy in their lives.

“Wyllyam is just a ball of joy. He loves making people laugh,” Phillips’ said. “He’s loved. He is love.”

Sheffey Jr.’s family says, “His life was taken from us unexpectedly. His spirit was full of love, laughter, and light, and his absence has left an immeasurable void in our lives.”

If you have information on the shooting, you can call Painesville Police at 440-392-5839.