CLEVELAND — Two people were arrested Wednesday, after a 23-year-old soon-to-be father was shot and killed at a Cleveland park on New Year’s Day.
The two people in custody include a 17-year-old boy and 28-year-old Austin Mueller, according to the Cleveland Division of Police.
The shooting happened just off Triskett Road in the parking lot of Mohican Park on Cleveland's west side. Police said at around 5:30 p.m., the victim was shot multiple times. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police have not released the victim’s name, but his girlfriend and a family friend identified him as 23-year-old Enrique Dudenas. They said he has a baby on the way.
Balloons and candles honored his memory near the spot where the shooting happened.
“He was so loving & caring, did whatever he could for his friends and family,” the victim’s girlfriend wrote in a message to 3News’ Matt Rascon. “Definitely was a family man and worked so hard for everything he wanted in life.”
“They should be investigating this. This is a murder. This ain’t no, 'Somebody’s purse got stolen'; somebody got killed,” said one family friend who did not want to be identified.
“I knew him as a kid. He was a great kid. I’m sure he was on his way to be a great father,” he said.
Police have not released any more details about the circumstances, but the family friend told 3News Enrique was meeting some potential buyers to sell his dirt bike at Mohican Park Monday when the shooting happened.
“I’m sure [the family] is throwing themselves on the couch together, crying. What do you do? Everybody’s devastated,” the friend said.
