A man remained in critical condition after being shot in the head early Sunday morning in Canton, according to police.
Officers were dispatched around 4:30 a.m. to the area of Tuscarawas Street West and Broad Avenue after receiving reports of shots fired. While en route, dispatchers received additional information that a male victim had been shot inside a nearby residence.
Upon arrival, officers entered the home and located the victim, identified as Richard Staats, lying between a bed and a wall. A woman inside the residence, who told officers she had called 911, directed them to the scene and provided a description of a possible suspect.
Police moved furniture to reach Staats and began administering aid. Officers reported finding a gunshot wound to the front of his head and a possible exit wound at the rear. He had a pulse and was breathing, though showing signs of severe injury.
Officers placed Staats in a recovery position while awaiting emergency medical personnel. Medics later arrived and took over care before transporting him to a hospital.
Multiple 911 calls provided additional details about the chaotic scene. One caller reported a man banging on her door, claiming someone was trying to shoot him, though it remains unclear if that individual was Staats. Another caller told dispatchers he heard approximately eight gunshots.
A separate 911 call came from inside the apartment where the shooting occurred. A frantic woman could be heard telling dispatchers, “He’s shot in the head, oh my God, oh my God,” as she cried during the call.
Another neighbor reported that the person responsible for the shooting fled the scene immediately afterward.
During the initial investigation, a pellet gun was found near the victim along with a cellphone. The woman at the scene was separated from others, and multiple witnesses and a potential suspect were transported for questioning.
Police secured the residence as a crime scene while investigators searched for evidence. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
