The Elyria Police Department has released details of a series of connected incidents at the Midview Crossing apartment complex on January 1 that resulted in two arrests and the recovery of multiple firearms.
According to police, officers were first called to Midview Crossing Apartments in the 1800 block of Middle Avenue at approximately 12:15 a.m. following reports of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers observed a male suspect fleeing into one of the apartment buildings. Moments later, police reported hearing multiple gunshots coming from an apartment.
That investigation identified Braylon Stone, 20, as the suspect in the shots-fired incident. As the investigation continued throughout the day, detectives obtained a residential search warrant for a residence in the 1300 block of East Avenue.
Later that afternoon, at approximately 2:00 p.m., officers returned to the Midview Crossing apartment complex after receiving reports of a fight in progress. Police said several individuals were observed fighting outside. Officers secured the area and began investigating the disturbance, during which they received conflicting information regarding whether weapons were involved.
Police said Sean Young was taken into custody following the fight disturbance. He was charged with obstructing official business, a second-degree misdemeanor, and assault, a first-degree misdemeanor.
As detectives continued investigating the incidents, police executed the search warrant at the East Avenue residence at approximately 5:30 p.m. The Elyria Police Department Special Response Team assisted with the operation, which coincided with a temporary closure of East Avenue between 16th Street and George Avenue and a heightened police presence in the area.
During the warrant execution, Stone exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident, police said. Detectives later recovered five firearms from the residence as part of the shots-fired investigation. Stone was charged with discharging a firearm on or near prohibited premises, a third-degree felony, and was transported to the Lorain County Jail, where he is being held without bond pending his initial court appearance.
Young was also transported to the Lorain County Jail and is being held pending his initial appearance in Elyria Municipal Court.
According to a second police press release, the fight disturbance and the arrests were connected to the earlier shots-fired incident at Midview Crossing, though the arrests involved separate individuals and separate charges. Police did not provide additional details in the press releases regarding how the incidents were connected or whether the arrests occurred at the same location.
“Our officers responded swiftly to a high-risk and evolving situation and worked diligently to bring it to a safe resolution,” said Elyria Police Chief James Welsh.
Anyone with information related to either incident is encouraged to contact Detective Loesch at 440-326-1205 or by email at tloesch@cityofelyria.org. Police said the investigation remains active and additional information will be released as it becomes available.