COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A 9-year-old central Ohio boy, whopolice say was the first targeted in a
string of shootings by hismother’s ex-boyfriend, has died from his injuries, a hospital officialsaid
Sunday.Jaiden Dixon succumbed to his injuries at NationwideChildren’s Hospital in Columbus, according to a
nursing supervisor whodeclined to provide further details early Sunday morning.The boyhad suffered severe
brain injuries and his organs were being donated,according to Mark Granger, the lawyer that Jaiden’s mother
works for as aparalegal and who spoke on behalf of the family Saturday.Jaidenwas the first victim in a
series of violent encounters Friday that endedin the death of his mother’s ex, 47-year-old Danny
Thornton.Thorntonshot Jaiden around 7:30 a.m. Friday when the boy answered the door at aresidence in Grove
City, a suburb on the city’s southwest side,according to Grove City police Capt. Jeffrey Pearson. About a
half-hourlater, police said Thornton shot an ex-girlfriend, 42-year-old VickiVertin, at a dental office in
Groveport, a suburb on the city’ssoutheast side.Police said Thornton entered the office and said,
"Haven’t seen you in a while" before shooting Vertin, a dental employee.Thorntonwas tracked to a
retail parking lot about two hours later and shot todeath by police when he emerged from his car holding a
gun, authoritiessaid.Vertin was hospitalized in critical condition Friday and anupdate on her condition was
not available early Sunday. A police officerwas also wounded.Police said they recovered a handgun, which
hasbeen turned over to investigators to determine if Thornton fired at theofficer. They were still trying to
learn what set him on his deadlypath.In a 911 call, a police dispatcher warned that Thornton hadthreatened
"suicide by cop." The dispatch said Thornton had "claimedthat he will not go down without a
fight with police."Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.