Niles woman is dead after shooting

The victim screamed for help before being killed, a neighbor says.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- A woman is dead and her boyfriend reportedly wounded by police this morning on the city's east side.
The body of a woman whom a neighbor identified as Erica Mechling of Wood Avenue was lying under a sheet in front of 127 Wood.
The unidentified boyfriend, who also suffered gunshot wounds, was taken by ambulance to an undisclosed hospital.
Capt. Chuck Wilson said he was not sure what happened during the 9 a.m. shootings, but characterized the unidentified man as "the suspect."
He did say the woman, in her 20s, was shot several times.
Kerstin Caudill of 101 Wood, who called 911, said Mechling had been living with her mother, father and boyfriend at her parents' home at Wood and Mason Street.
Caudill said Mechling was running from her home and screaming before the shots were fired.
"Somebody please help me!" Caudill said Mechling yelled.
"He shot her while she was running," Caudill said, noting two shots were fired while the victim was fleeing and one while she was lying in the front yard.
Caudill said the boyfriend reloaded the pistol when police arrived. He then ran up the driveway at 127 Wood and into an alley.
After police arrived, Caudill said, she heard more shots fired.
James Paxon, Caudill's boyfriend, said a friend told him that police fired a nonlethal bean bag at the suspect. When the suspect turned around, police fired three shots, Paxon was told.
Lifesaving attempt
Paramedics attempted for about 10 minutes to revive Mechling but to no avail, Paxon said.
"I've known her for years," Caudill said. She used to baby-sit my kids."
Caudill said Mechling and her boyfriend lived on Circle Street in Niles until she lost her restaurant job.
She moved back with her parents, and her boyfriend joined them about a week ago.
"It's just sad to see her go that way," Caudill said as she sat in front of her home.
yovich@vindy.com