While in jail on a murder charge, police connect suspect to separate killing weeks earlier

A 23-year-old Ohio man was behind bars facing a murder charge when Cincinnati police say they connected him to a separate killing weeks earlier.

The Cincinnati Police Department said officers responded to a call of shots fired on May 25 around 3 p.m.

When officers arrived, police found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds, authorities said.

The victim was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center by the Cincinnati Fire Department, where he died from his injuries, police said. The victim was identified as Terrance Owensby, 41, officials said.

After an investigation by the Cincinnati Police Homicide Unit, Javonte Smith, 23, was indicted for the murder of Owensby on June 14, police said.

However, Smith was already in jail, as he was arrested on June 3 and charged with the murder of Randy Billings, 49, according to authorities.

Around 1:15 p.m. June 3, officers from the Cincinnati Police Department responded to a reported shooting, police said.

Once officers arrived, they found the victim suffering from gunshot wounds and Billings was pronounced dead on the scene, according to officials.

Around 4 p.m. on June 3, Smith was found charged in connection to Billings' killing, police said.

Smith was taken to the Hamilton County Justice Center for the first murder charge and remained there on a $1 million bond when this second murder charge was handed down, officers said.