Woman shot in head remains critical

Dayton couple has history of violence, according to police.

A Dayton woman remains in critical condition Tuesday evening after allegedly being shot in the head by her husband Monday, police said, noting that the couple has a history of violence.

Ellen Derrick, 67, was shot at her Earlham Drive home on Dayton’s west side Monday afternoon. Her ex-husband, who was dropping off their grandchildren after school, found her unconscious and called 911.

Through their investigation, Dayton police detectives determined Derrick was involved in an argument with her current husband prior to the shooting, said Lt. Wendy Stiver. The husband was not on the scene when officers arrived, but he was found in another location later that evening with a gunshot wound to his leg. Police are trying to determine why he was shot, Stiver said, adding that his gunshot wound is suspicious.

Detectives plan to interview him once he is released from the hospital, and Stiver said he is a person of interest in Derrick’s shooting. The newspaper is not revealing his name because he’s not been charged with shooting his wife.

Derrick’s husband was convicted of domestic violence against her in 2010. Because of that history, Stiver said homicide detectives are working with domestic violence investigators on the case to see if the shooting could be related.

“We know there was at least one prior incident of violence (between the couple),” she said. “Typically when we have a violent crime incident where we believe there’s domestic violence, we’ll bring in our domestic violence investigators to assist because they have other resources and knowledge to aid in the investigation.”

Derrick is being treated at Miami Valley Hospital, a relative confirmed.