The search is on for a group of teenagers armed with a hand gun who terrorized a Colerain Township family during a home invasion. Some of them wore masks, some didn't and at least one had a gun. But the most powerful weapon the teenage gangsters brought with them was fear.
They broke into the home on Impala Drive Just before 10 p.m. Monday... terrifying and threatening the ward family during the robbery. Local 12's Rich Jaffe spoke with one of the victims.
Christopher Ward normally would have been in class at Beckfield College, had it not been for the fact that he left work early because he wasn't feeling well. Ward spent the evening at home with his family. It's certainly possible that his presence and cool head made a significant difference in how this home invasion ended.
Ward, his fiance, and 11 year old daughter were all in the bedroom watching TV, when he heard a "bump" which he though could be his brother, other son or daughter, then suddenly he sees his brother. "And all of a sudden he comes falling into the bedroom and I'm like...what's going on and it's a little young black male couldn't have been more than 17 to 20, somewhere around there and he's pointing a gun at me."
The gun toting teen wasn't alone. Possibly as many as five other young black males had also forced their way in. "First thing they say is give us the pills...I'm like what are you all talking about? We got kids here. Where's the money, the jewelry. We don't have that here. I don't know if you picked the wrong house. And I'm looking at the gun thinking that's a little bitty gun, it looked like a long nosed 22 is what it looked like."
Ward's biggest concern was his children. "I started to get up and then he swung it back around at me, he said sit down or I'm gonna shoot you. And I said I don't care what you do, get my daughter in this room cause I had my 11 year old with me, but my 13 year old was in her bedroom and I could hear her screaming."
As the one with the gun moved to Ward's 13 year old daughter's bedroom...another tall skinny intruder wearing a mask picked up an oxygen bottle and started swinging it around, giving his fiance a glancing blow to the head. "He kind of took it, holding it by the neck, and the bottom of it at the same time he swung it around hit the wall and then kind of like threw it. I'm thinking that it hit the wall and bounced off and hit her, I can't be sure."
About ten minutes after it all began the teens left, and Ward called 911. But he has a warning for his visitors. "If I find those young men, you better pray the police find you first."
Christopher Ward says his family members lost various amounts of cash, a Play Station Three, a lap top computer and a variety of other things... all of which would be easy to grab and sell.
Colerain Township police say they're taking the case very seriously, especially because the teens came into the home, knowing there were people inside. Chief Dan Meloy tells us at this point this case is not similar to any other's they're working, specifically because it involved so many intruders.
If you have information that could help investigators, call Crimestoppers at 352-3040. You can get cash for clues and help get these dangerous young men off the street.
