By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

GLENDALE - Michael R. Combs had a great sense of humor and made friends easily, a former girlfriend said Saturday.

"I have no idea why someone would do this. I can't make sense of it. The only thing I can think of is it was a random act of violence," said Jennifer West of West Chester Township, the mother of Combs' 3-year-old son, Hayden.

Combs, 30, died early Saturday after being shot as he stood outside his Glendale house.

The shooting marks the first homicide in decades in this quaint village of 2,200 residents, a place known for its wide tree-lined streets and mansion-like homes.

Glendale Police Lt. Dave Warman said officials would have to go back about 40 years to find the last homicide in this area.

He added that violent crime of any kind is extremely rare in this Hamilton County suburb, about 15 miles northwest of Cincinnati.

Combs was outside his Church Avenue house about 11 p.m. Friday with his three dogs when three men approached him, West said.

A friend who was inside the house heard him call to her to take the dogs inside. She then heard a gunshot.

Combs was shot once in the arm, police said, but the bullet traveled into his chest. He was airlifted to University Hospital, where he died several hours later.

Glendale Police Chief Matt Fruchey turned to the Hamilton County Sheriff's office for help with the case.

Authorities continued to investigate the incident Saturday, speaking with Combs' friends and relatives. No arrests have been made.

Born in Cincinnati and raised in West Chester, Combs moved to Glendale about five months ago, West said. He worked as an on-site construction supervisor for Symmes Township-based homebuilder Hensley Homes.

E-mail mmccain@enquirer.com