The shootings occurred just before midnight Saturday at an event center located in the 1900 block of South Yellow Springs Street, according to a police report.
When police arrived at the scene, they found the three victims with gunshot wounds, the report said.
Belle and another teen were reportedly taken to Springfield’s hospital by a personal vehicle. The third victim was transported by medics, and later transferred to Miami Valley Hospital by Mobile Intensive Care Unit.
Belle’s grandfather — also named Melvin Belle — and his wife raised the teen from the time he was a baby. He was a “loveable” kid, the elder Belle said.
“When he got to know you, he was outgoing,” the elder Belle said of his grandson. “You would have loved him.”
The younger Belle was a junior at Springfield High School and a middle linebacker for the Springfield Wildcats football team. He was among the eldest of his several siblings, and his grandfather described him as “overprotective” of his younger brothers and sisters.
A person who called 911 after the incident told police that he witnessed the shooting from across the street. He said he saw a boy wearing a gray hoodie, white sneakers and dark jeans running from the area with a gun, according to 911 call records. The caller added that he he heard several gunshots in the area.
No charges have been filed in relation to the shooting.
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