Canton officer drives wounded man to hospital

CANTON — A police officer who answered a report of shots being fired rushed the wounded man to the hospital early Thursday morning in his cruiser, authorities said.

The officer drove to the 1200 block of Spring Avenue NE just after 12:30 a.m. and found a driver trying to take a man with a bullet wound to the hospital.

Police Capt. Dave Davis said the officer helped the 51-year-old northeast Canton man into his cruiser and took him to Aultman Hospital himself.

Police believe the victim had been riding in a car when another vehicle, described only as white, pulled up alongside him on Spring and someone inside began shooting.

The man suffered a gunshot wound to his right wrist, an injury not described as life-threatening, Davis said. Officers found shell casings in the area.

The captain said he knew of no motive for the shooting.

He also said that investigators do not believe the incident was related to any of the other shootings that have occurred over the past few days. But, he said, they're continuing to investigate.

The shooting took place about an hour after gunfire was reported at 12th Street and Plain Avenue NE.

Davis said someone called police at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday to report that someone had just shot at his vehicle.

The caller told police he was driving east when another vehicle pulled up beside him and someone inside began shooting at his car, Davis said.

No one was hit, but police found a bullethole near the bottom of the passenger side of the victim's car.

A description of the car was unavailable, Davis said.

Police do not know whether the shootings are related, but detectives continued to investigate.