TONY GORDON DIED TRYING TO FOLLOW OSHP CAPT. JOHN BORN'S ADVICE

More information is now available concerning the tragic shooting of James Anthony ("Tony") Gordon in a Dayton carjacking Tuesday.

(For background on this story, see: "Blood on their hands?: Dayton man dies in apparent carjacking")

James Anthony Gordon, 27, of 309 E. Fairview Ave., was shot about 11:08 p.m. as his 13-year-old nephew, a passenger in the T-bird, watched. The car was stopped for a red light on North Main Street at Fairview Avenue when a gunman approached the driver's side, Lt. John Huber said.

"It's an innocent motorist who was robbed," Huber said. "The owner of the car, Mr. Gordon, tried to drive away and was shot for it."

According to family members, the homicide has traumatized the nephew who was an occupant in the vehicle.

"Tony was his role model."

Gordon's friends and family members, including his 3-year-old daughter, Cheyanne, gathered Wednesday at his father's (Jim) home. They sat by the garage, which held three cars that father and son had restored together.

Pointing to his granddaughter, Jim Gordon's voice broke slightly: "She wants to know where he's at and I can't tell her."

Commentary by Chad D. Baus: What the media has as yet failed to point out (despite our pointing it out in advance to the reporter who wrote today's DDN story) is that Tony Gordon was killed trying to follow the advice of the Ohio State Highway Patrol:

"We do not want a loaded firearm readily accessible to the driver of a car. If there's a dangerous situation and you're in your car, you can drive off." - Capt. John Born in the Columbus Dispatch, 2/16/03, explaining why the OSHP opposes allowing citizens to carry firearms for their own defense.

When asked today by OFCC PAC Chairman Jim Irvine if Mr. Gordon's murder would weigh at all on the governor's insistence on his "Carjacker Protection" provision, Taft's office refused to comment.

Anyone with information about Tony Gordon's homicide is asked to call Dayton police at 333-COPS or Sgt. Gary White at 333-1190.

Click here to read the full story in today's Dayton Daily News.