The following vignettes describe the circumstances for killings not ruled self-defense by private individuals with permits to carry concealed handguns. The incidents below all occurred in Ohio. The descriptions include the current, known status of any charges filed against the concealed carry killer as reported by news sources as well as noting instances where the perpetrator committed suicide.
The Violence Policy Center welcomes any new information regarding the status of any case (with verifiable source(s)). Use this link to contact the VPC: http://www.vpc.org/contact.htm.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Randy Lee Spurlock, Jr. CONVICTED
Date: July 4, 2022
People Killed: 1
Circumstances:On July 4, 2022, concealed handgun permit holder Randy Lee Spurlock, Jr., 30, shot and killed his next-door neighbor Scott Gallagher, 58 during an altercation outside Spurlock’s Toledo home. According to Spurlock’s attorney, Gallagher shouted profanities toward Spurlock regarding his support for Donald Trump, punched Spurlock in the face and began walking up the steps of Spurlock’s porch. Spurlock drew his gun and Gallagher tried to take it from him. Spurlock then went down the steps of the porch and Gallagher pursued him and punched him in the ear. Spurlock fired a single shot, striking Gallagher in the chest. In November 2022, Spurlock was charged with murder and felonious assault. Spurlock claimed he acted in self defense, but in May 2023 he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter to avoid going to trial for murder. The judge in the case stated, “Sometimes guns unnecessarily escalate situations, and this court believes this is one of those situations. This argument should have ended with a couple of black eyes, not loss of life.” Spurlock was sentenced to three to four and a half years in prison with credit of 175 days for time served.
Source: “Man who shot aggressive neighbor pleads out to voluntary manslaughter,” toledoblade.com, May 15, 2023.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Zechariah Gauer CONVICTED
Date: November 27, 2020
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On November 27, 2020, concealed handgun permit holder Zechariah Gauer, 21, allegedly shot and killed Christopher Fuelling, 28, following a road rage incident that ended outside Fuelling’s home. According to prosecutors, Gauer and Fuelling were involved in a 15-minute car chase on a nearby highway. After the chase ended outside Fuelling’s home, prosecutors said a surveillance camera recorded five shots allegedly fired by Gauer from inside his vehicle which struck the unarmed Fuelling in the back. Gauer claims that he acted in self defense. According to prosecutors, Gauer had obtained his concealed carry permit in October 2020. The gun allegedly used in the incident had a 30-round magazine and another 15-round magazine was located in the vehicle glove compartment. Prosecutors said that a magnetic holster was mounted underneath the steering wheel, keeping the gun “ready at all times.” The prosecutor stated, “From the state’s perspective, this looks like a gentleman who got a gun and was eager to use it.” Gauer was charged with murder and second degree felonious assault, both with three-year gun specifications.
UPDATE: In December 2021, Zechariah Gauer pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Christopher Fuelling. In January 2022, Gauer was sentenced to an “indefinite maximum” of six years in prison, with four years as a minimum. Gauer will also be subject to between two and five years of post-release control, and will be forbidden for life to obtain or possess a firearm or ammunition.
Source: “Road-rage gunman sentenced to 4-6 years in state prison after no-contest plea,” The Toledo Blade, January 29, 2022; “Defense seeks bond reduction for suspect in Sylvania Township homicide,” toledoblade.com, December 16, 2020; “Man dead after shooting on McCord Rd.; suspect in custody,” wtol.com, November 27, 2020.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Savon Frost CONVICTED
Date: July 8, 2019
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On July 8, 2019, concealed handgun permit holder Savon Frost, 25, shot and killed James Bishop, 29, following a fight at an apartment. Frost’s girlfriend, Cheronda Bishop, had been arguing throughout the day with her brother James. Frost claimed that when the argument became physical he pulled his gun and fired a warning shot. Frost said Bishop then charged at him and Frost fired two shots, killing Bishop. Frost admitted that he and Cheronda Bishop fled the scene and that he discarded his gun behind a nearby residence. In July 2020, Frost pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, tampering with evidence, and gun specifications. On August 20, 2020, Frost was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Source: “East Side man gets 15 years in shooting death of girlfriend’s brother,” The Columbus Dispatch, August 20, 2020.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Shannon Ingol CONVICTED
Date: June 19, 2019
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On June 19, 2019, concealed handgun permit holder Shannon Ingol, 22, shot and killed his father Shannon Callahan, 41, in the driveway of the family’s home. Prior to the shooting, Ingol was having delusions that his father was involved with his girlfriend. Ingol was charged with murder with a gun specification. He initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but two mental health evaluations deemed him competent and sane. On March 4, 2020, Ingol pleaded guilty to murder with a gun specification and was sentenced to life in prison with possible parole after 16 years.
Source: “Barberton man, 22, sentenced to life in prison for fatal shooting of his father,” beaconjournal.com, March 4, 2020.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Tavist D. Chester CONVICTED
Date: May 12, 2019
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On May 12, 2019, concealed handgun permit holder Tavist D. Chester, 25, shot and killed Nigel G. Jackson, 22, outside the R Bar & Grill, following a fight inside the bar. Chester said that he had only been inside the bar for a few minutes when someone hit him in the back of the head. A fight ensued and Chester was pulled outside the bar. Chester retrieved his .40 pistol from where he had hidden it on top of one of his truck’s tires and then walked back toward the bar. Chester fired several shots from his pistol, claiming that a man named Antonio Wallace was pointing a gun at him. Chester and Wallace had a history of prior altercations. Jackson was fatally struck by three .40 bullets. Chester was charged with aggravated murder, murder, and three counts of felonious assault. On January 13, 2020, Chester was convicted of murder in the death of Nigel Jackson. On January 17, 2020, Chester was sentenced to 23 to 24 years to life in prison.
Source: “Canton man sentenced in fatal shooting outside R Bar,” indeonline.com, January 17, 2020; “Canton man convicted of murder for R Bar & Grill shooting,” cantonrep.com, January 13, 2020; “Accused gunman in fatal R Bar & Grill shooting testifies,” cantonrep.com, January 9, 2020.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Jordan Skoog CONVICTED
Date: March 20, 2019
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On March 20, 2019, concealed handgun permit holder Jordan Skoog, 30, shot and killed Austin Smiley, 19. Skoog, Smiley, and Tyler Hamilton, friends and co-workers at Mid-Ohio Pipeline, were drinking together that night when Skoog shot Smiley in the forehead. According to the prosecutor, Skoog “violated every safety rule he had ever been taught” when he pointed the gun at Smiley not knowing that it was loaded. On March 1, 2021, Jordan Skoog was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide in the death of Austin Smiley. On March 2, 2021, Skoog was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution to Smiley’s family.
Source: “Fredericktown man sentenced to six years in shooting death,” wmfd.com, March 2, 2021; “Jordan Skoog verdict: Guilty as charged on 3 counts,” mansfieldnewsjournal.com, March 1, 2021; “Murder charge off the table in case of fatal shooting of former Hillsdale student,” The Daily Record, March 10, 2020.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Kyle Rice CONVICTED
Date: February 9, 2019
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On February 9, 2019, concealed handgun permit holder Kyle Rice, 29, allegedly shot and killed Danekua Bankston, 28, at Bankston’s apartment in Youngstown, Ohio. Prosecutors say Rice shot Bankston several times in front of their children because of an argument. Bankston died a few days later in St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. After allegedly shooting Bankston, Rice fled the home but left his phone next to her, placing him at the scene. Rice was charged with murder.
UPDATE: On July 21, 2021 Kyle Rice was found guilty of aggravated murder and murder in the death of Danekua Bankston.
Source: “’I was scared for my life’: Accused murderer found guilty after he says he shot girlfriend in self-defense,” wkbn.com, July 21, 2021; “Judge denies bail modification in murder case,” vindy.com, June 19, 2019.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Ryan Daniels, Sr. CONVICTED
Date: February 2019
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: In February 2019, concealed handgun permit holder Ryan Daniels, Sr., 29, shot and killed Britney Mazanec outside the Hideaway Lounge. Daniels testified at trial that he did not think his gun was loaded when he tapped it twice on the passenger window of Mazanec’s car. The gun went off and Mazanec was shot and killed. At sentencing the judge in the case stated, “You shot an innocent young lady and left her in her car to die. You wanted this court and the jury to believe it was an accident yet your actions demonstrate otherwise.” The prosecutor explained, “This case clearly warranted the maximum sentence. It’s a shame we could not charge this defendant with a more serious offense. This was a defendant who obviously knew better, he had been trained with a carry concealed permit.” In February 2020, Daniels was convicted of reckless homicide and involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to six years in prison.
Source: “Man convicted of shooting woman outside Niles bar gets maximum sentence,” wkbn.com, February 26, 2020.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Travis E. Burdette CONVICTED
Date: January 24, 2019
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On January 24, 2019, concealed handgun permit holder Travis E. Burdette, 29, allegedly shot and killed Jerome Noble, 32, outside a Circle K convenience store in Ashtabula, Ohio. Burdette and Noble had engaged in a verbal argument while inside the store that continued outside where Noble was shot several times in the chest and neck. Burdette, who had a concealed carry permit, turned himself in to the Ashtabula Police Department. Travis Burdette was charged with involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault, improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, aggravated menacing, and disorderly conduct. Travis Burdette’s brother, Dakota Burdette, and Christopher Alston, who accompanied Noble to the store, were also arrested and charged in relation to the shooting.
UPDATE: In November 2020, Travis Burdette pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Jerome Noble, and was sentenced to five years of community control, and 36 months in jail if he violates the terms of his probation.
Source: “Travis Burdette pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter, gets probation, starbeacon.com, November 11, 2020, “Brothers indicted in January Circle K shooting,” starbeacon.com, March 21, 2019.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: James Rhymer CONVICTED
Date: June 29, 2018
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On June 29, 2018, concealed handgun permit holder James Rhymer, 45, shot and killed Thomas Landacre, 37, during a child custody exchange. Rhymer had driven to a location near a community pool to pick up his three-year-old son from his ex-girlfriend. The exchange initially took place without incident and Rhymer put the boy in his vehicle. At that point Landacre, who was Rhymer’s ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend, drove up in a pickup truck and got out. According to Rhymer’s defense attorney, Landacre was shirtless, with visible swastika tattoos, and was shouting obscenities and “lunging” at Rhymer. Rhymer, a veteran of both the Army and Navy, retrieved his handgun from the center console of his vehicle and shot Landacre in the chest, killing him. While Rhymer claimed that he acted in self-defense, prosecutors argued that Rhymer “abused his powers as a gun owner.” Prosecutors stated that while Landacre “is not a sympathetic character” and acted irrationally, “That doesn’t mean he should have died.” Rhymer was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
Source: “Man sentenced in 2018 child custody exchange killing in suburban Hamilton County,” cincinnati.com, March 20, 2020; “Man convicted of manslaughter in child custody exchange shooting,” cincinnati.com, February 25, 2020.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Unidentified UNINTENTIONAL
Date: April 20, 2018
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On April 20, 2018, an unidentified concealed handgun permit holder unintentionally shot and killed her two-year-old daughter, Laila Johnson, while trying to engage the safety of her gun. According to police, the mother was apparently putting the gun away when it fired. The bullet passed through a mattress, striking her daughter in the chest. Three other children were in the hotel room when the incident occurred, but were not injured.
Source: “Mom Was Turning On Safety When 2-Year-Old Was Shot, Killed,” pittsburgh.cbslocal.com, April 23, 2018; “2-year-old girl accidentally shot and killed at Wickliffe hotel, police say,” cleveland.com, April 21, 2018.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Joan Horton SHOT AND KILLED IN INCIDENT
Date: January 5, 2018
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On January 5, 2018, concealed handgun permit holder Joan Horton, 39, was shot and killed with her own gun after getting into a fight. Police say that Horton was involved in a fight with another woman, who did not have a gun, at Andy’s Café when she pulled out her handgun. When an unarmed bouncer tried to break up the fight and take her gun, it went off, striking her once in the stomach. Horton was transported to the hospital where she died from her injuries. Police say it was not clear who was holding the gun when it went off. No charges have been filed.
Source: “Victim in Carthage Shooting had concealed-carry permit,” www.cincinnati.com, January 6, 2018.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Unidentified UNINTENTIONAL
Date: September 28, 2017
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On September 28, 2017, three-year-old Christian Hein died after shooting himself in the head with his father’s gun outside the family’s home in Parma, Ohio. According to investigators, the boy found the loaded gun in the center console of the family’s van and unintentionally shot himself with it. A caller to 911 described the shooting, “It sounded like a shot, and now some guy is running around the backyard screaming and yelling….I don’t know what happened, but it doesn’t look good or sound good. There’s a little kid, looks like he’s got blood all over him.” The boy’s father had a concealed carry permit.
Source: “Medical examiner’s office identifies boy shot in head in Parma,” cleveland.com, September 29, 2017; “Police: 4-year-old in Parma shot himself in the head,” news5cleveland.com, September 28, 2017.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Tiffany Smith CONVICTED
Date: July 29, 2017
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On July 29, 2017, concealed handgun permit holder Tiffany Smith, 42, allegedly shot and killed Lacy Rae King, 32, following a fight involving teens that escalated after adults became involved. Smith’s attorney claims she was called to Joe’s Drive-Thru after her daughter was involved in an altercation, and was defending herself against someone threatening her with a bottle. King’s mother called the dispute “kid’s stuff” saying Smith “killed my daughter over something that could have just been resolved.” King’s sister called the shooting senseless and said Smith “brought a gun to a kid fight.” Smith was charged with murder.
UPDATE: In August 2017, the charges against Tiffany Smith were upgraded to special felony murder and felonious assault.
UPDATE: On July 24, 2019, Tiffany Smith was convicted of murder and felonious assault in the death of Lacy King. On August 6, 2019, Smith was sentenced to 21 years to life in prison.
Source: “’You ruined your life,’ judge tells woman during sentencing for fatal Lockland shooting,” local12.com, August 6, 2019; “Lockland woman convicted of murder for fatal shooting at drive-thru,” local12.com, July 24, 2019; “Woman faces additional charges for Lockland murder,” local12.com, August 15, 2017; “Families say Lockland shooting started with teen dispute,” wlwt.com, July 31, 2017.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: David Kinney CONVICTED
Date: May 7, 2017
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On May 7, 2017, concealed handgun permit holder David Kinney, 30, allegedly shot and killed his friend Brad McGarry, 43, at McGarry’s home following an argument. According to police, Kinney’s first written statement about the incident indicated that he went to McGarry’s home to return a weed-eater and found McGarry’s body. In a second statement two days later, Kinney admitted there was an argument between himself and McGarry saying, “I started to tell him what we can no longer see each other in any other way but being friends and we started arguing.” Kinney went on to allege that McGarry grabbed a pistol and was waving it around and pointing it at him, and that he panicked and shot McGarry, saying he never meant to kill his best friend and that he acted in self defense. Kinney was charged with murder with a firearm specification.
UPDATE: On February 6, 2018, David Kinney was found guilty of aggravated murder in the death of Brad McGarry. On February 14, 2018, Kinney was sentenced to life in prison plus three years, with no possibility for parole.
Source: “Best friend’s murder sends Bellaire man to prison,” wtrf.com, February 14, 2018; “Belmont County jury finds Kinney guilty in McGarry’s death,” timesleaderonline.com, February 6, 2018; “Interview ruled admissible in murder case,” The Times Leader, July 7, 2017; “More details surface in Bellaire murder case,” wtov9.com, May 18, 2017.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Steve Stephens SUICIDE
Date: April 16, 2017
People Killed: 2 (including shooter)
Circumstances: On April 16, 2017, concealed handgun permit holder Steve Stephens, 37, shot and killed Robert Godwin Sr., 74, as Godwin was collecting aluminum cans on East 93rd Street in Cleveland, Ohio. Stephens, who did not know Godwin prior to the shooting, posted a video of the murder on Facebook shortly after it happened. In the video, Stephens forced Godwin to say the name of Stephens’ girlfriend before shooting him and claimed to have killed more than a dozen other people, which remains unsubstantiated. Stephens led police on a multi-state manhunt before shooting and killing himself in Erie County, Pennsylvania. Police recovered a .45 Glock handgun from his car, which is believed to be the murder weapon.
Source: “Gun believed to be murder weapon found in Steve Stephens’ car,” www.thedenverchannel.com, April 19, 2017; “Cleveland Facebook murder suspect shot, killed himself after pursuit: Police,” www.abcnews.go.com, April 18, 2017; “Facebook shooting suspect has concealed carry license, police say,” www.cleveland.com, April 17, 2017; “Multistate manhunt underway for suspect in Facebook homicide video,” www.washingtonpost.com, April 17, 2017; “Woman targeted by Facebook killer is cooperating with police, source says,” www.cleveland.com, April 17, 2017.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: William S. Knight CONVICTED
Date: March 20, 2017
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On March 20, 2017, concealed handgun permit holder William S. Knight, 63, allegedly shot and killed Keith Johnson, 24, on Danmead Avenue in Akron, Ohio. The family of Knight’s son-in-law began communicating with Johnson when he offered to sell the dirt bike on social media, believing that the motorcycle was the same one that had been stolen from their garage in February 2016. According to Johnson’s father, Johnson had owned the dirt bike for about three months and did not know it was stolen. After agreeing to meet on Danmead Avenue, the family demanded Johnson give back the motorcycle. When Johnson attempted to leave, Knight’s son-in-law, 40, grabbed onto the dirt bike to stop him. Knight then allegedly shot Johnson in the head. A member of the family was on the phone with 911 when the shot was fired, and had been attempting to get police officers to the scene to convince Johnson to give them the motorcycle. Knight was arrested and charged with felonious assault and involuntary manslaughter.
UPDATE: On April 10, 2018, William Knight was found guilty on two counts of murder and two counts of felonious assault in the killing of Keith Johnson. On April 23, 2018, Knight was sentenced to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole after serving 18 years of his sentence.
Source: “Streetsboro man sentenced to life in prison after shooting a man in the head over dirt bike,” news5cleveland.com, April 23, 2018; “Streetsboro man found guilty of murder in fatal shooting over dirt bike,” cleveland.com, April 10, 2018; “Man charged in deadly Akron shooting over stolen dirt bike,” www.fox8.com, March 21, 2017.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Dawn Shearer CONVICTED
Date: February 6, 2017
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On February 6, 2017, concealed handgun permit holder Dawn Shearer allegedly shot and killed her ex-husband, Tony Shearer, inside their Middletown, Ohio, home. The victim was found shot in the head. Shearer stated that she was acting in self-defense and her defense attorney claimed that witnesses saw the victim chasing Shearer around their driveway and that he had blocked her car to prevent her from leaving. The couple had divorced but were attempting to reconcile. Shearer was charged with murder and pleaded not guilty.
UPDATE: On June 23, 2017, Dawn Shearer was found guilty of murder and felonious assault in the death of Tony Shearer. She was sentenced to a mandatory 15 years to life in prison.
Source: “Middletown woman convicted of murder in ex-husband’s death,” www.journal-news.com, June 23, 2017; “Middletown woman claims self-defense in shooting of ex-husband,” www.wlwt.com, February 8, 2017.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Javon Thomas PENDING
Date: January 7, 2017
People Killed: 2
Circumstances: On January 7, 2017, concealed handgun permit holder Javon Thomas, 27, shot and killed Brian Brack, 24, and Austin Tiller, 20, following an altercation at a party at Thomas’s girlfriend’s apartment. Brack’s girlfriend, Destany Dixon, called Brack from the party and was upset about a joke that Thomas had made at her expense. Thomas testified that he saw Brack put a gun in his pocket as he walked into the apartment. The two men exchanged words and each pulled a gun and fired. Thomas fired six shots from his Micro Desert Eagle .380 pistol. Three of the shots went through Tiller’s back, killing him. One hit Brack in the chest and he died in the hallway outside the apartment. One shot wounded Dixon in the leg. On October 12, 2017, Thomas was found guilty of two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, and one count of misdemeanor negligent homicide, along with four firearms specifications. On November 27, 2017, Thomas was sentenced to 36 years to life in prison.
UPDATE: In July 2019, an appeals court ordered a new trial for Javon Thomas in the death of Brian Brack and Austin Tiller. Thomas argued in his appeal that he was not given a fair trial because the jury was instructed in the wrong kind of self-defense doctrine. The jury was instructed that under Ohio law, a person claiming self-defense has a “duty to retreat” before using force as a form of self-defense. Thomas argued the jury should have been instructed to consider the “castle doctrine” which means that if someone lives in the home they are being attacked in, they do not have a duty to retreat.
Source: “New trial ordered for man sentenced to prison for double homicide in Ravenna,” record-courier.com, July 9, 2019; “Javon Thomas gets 36 years to life in prison for murder,” record-courier.com, November 27, 2017.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Steven Leannais CONVICTED
Date: December 8, 2016
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On December 8, 2016, concealed handgun permit holder Steven Leannais, 30, allegedly unintentionally shot and killed his friend Anthony Stanford, II during a drunken dinner party at Leannais’ Cleveland apartment. Leannais apparently decided to live-stream some of the evening’s events on Facebook. The video allegedly shows Leannais jokingly waving the gun around as well as putting it in his own mouth, saying, “I’m going to do it, I swear to God.” Sometime after streaming the video, Stanford was fatally shot in the abdomen. Leannais agreed to prosecutors’ request to surrender any guns in his possession in addition to his concealed carry permit. Leannais was charged with third-degree felony involuntary manslaughter.
UPDATE: On March 14, 2018, Steven Leannais was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Anthony Stanford. Leannais faces between three and six years in prison.
Source: State v. Leannais, 2019-Ohio-2568, 2019 Ohio App. LEXIS 2684, 2019 WL 2635959; “Cleveland man who shot friend during dinner party found guilty of involuntary manslaughter,” cleveland.com, March 14, 2018; “A tragic mistake: Man allegedly shot friend after playing with gun on Facebook Live,” www.wtae.com, December 13, 2016; “Banker’s assistant, 30, ‘accidentally shot and killed his 27-year-old friend’ after playing about with a gun at a drunken dinner party that was being streamed live on Facebook,” Daily Mail, December 13, 2016.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Frank Staton CONVICTED
Date: March 24, 2016
People Killed: 2
Circumstances: On March 24, 2016, concealed handgun permit holder Frank Staton, 56, allegedly shot and killed Terri Treadway, 58 and Catherine Sutter, 58, before attempting to kill himself. Treadway and Sutter were housekeepers at Hamlet Village, an assisted living facility in northeast Ohio. According to police, Staton lived with one of the women. According to an affidavit in his arrest warrant, Staton admitted to shooting the women. Staton was hospitalized in critical condition. He was charged with murder.
UPDATE: On August 23, 2016, Frank Staton pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, murder, and felonious assault in the deaths of Terri Treadway and Catherine Sutter. He was sentenced to 66 years to life in prison.
Source: “Man pleads guilty to killing two women at Chagrin Falls retirement community,” fox8.com, August 23, 2016; “Warrant: Chef at Ohio facility admitted killing housekeepers,” limaohio.com, March 26, 2016.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Elizabeth Green UNINTENTIONAL
Date: June 11, 2015
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On June 11, 2015, three-year-old Marques Green unintentionally shot himself with a pistol he found in his mother’s purse. The boy’s mother, concealed handgun permit holder Elizabeth Green, said in a call to 911 dispatchers that she had put her purse down after returning to her home and heard a shot moments later. On the 911 recording she was heard saying, “My son just shot himself and I’m not getting a pulse. Oh my God, oh, my God, I’m not getting a pulse…I don’t think he’s alive!” An investigation confirmed the boy died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest and that the mother failed to secure the handgun in her purse, where she kept it for protection. No charges were filed against Elizabeth Green.
Source: “No charges for mother whose 3-year-old killed self,” 10tv.com, June 17, 2015; “‘My son just shot himself and I’m not getting a pulse!’: Three-year-old boy dies firing mom’s handgun into his own chest after finding it in her purse,” Daily Mail, June 12, 2015.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Christopher Kiehl CONVICTED
Date: September 21, 2014
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On September 21, 2014, concealed handgun permit holder Christopher Kiehl, 25, shot and killed Kyle R. Fox, 26, following an altercation after a party. Kiehl and Fox were attending a bonfire party at the home of Fox’s fiancee, Brittany Mulhollen. According to witnesses, someone encouraged Kiehl to pull his truck closer to the bonfire so people could sit on the tailgate. Kiehl’s truck then got stuck in a ditch and damaged the lawn. The damage angered Fox and Mulhollen’s father who confronted Kiehl as he prepared to drive away. Witnesses reported that Fox jumped into the bed of the truck, and a confrontation ensued after the truck stopped and Fox jumped out. Kiehl claimed that he was defending himself, saying, “All I wanted to do was pistol whip him in the face. I was defending myself.” Kiehl admitted he should not have taken his weapon out since he had been drinking, but claimed the gun went off unintentionally during the confrontation. Fox died of a single gunshot wound to the neck. On December 23, 2014, Kiehl was found guilty of reckless homicide with a firearm.
Source: “Barberton man found guilty of homicide, but not murder,” cleveland.com, December 23, 2014; “Emotional testimony in Edinburg murder trial,” recordpub.com, December 17, 2014.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Maurizio Kollstedt SUICIDE
Date: November 29, 2013
People Killed: 2 (including shooter)
Circumstances: On November 29, 2013, concealed handgun permit holder Maurizio Kollstedt, 43, shot and killed his girlfriend, 30-year-old Tabitha Lynn Windham, before turning the gun on himself. According to a friend and neighbor of Kollstedt’s, “He was pretty proud of the fact that he got his conceal carry permit recently, and I’m a conceal carry holder myself and I know the background checks.” According to the same neighbor, Kollstedt had been “having trouble with his girlfriend.”
Source: “Police ID 2 killed in Colerain Twp. murder-suicide,” fox19.com, November 29, 2013; “Two dead in Colerain Township murder-suicide,” wcpo.com, November 29, 2013.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Charles Kropinak SUICIDE
Date: September 8, 2013
People Killed: 2 (including shooter)
Circumstances: On September 8, 2013, concealed handgun permit holder Charles Kropinak, 36, shot and killed his estranged girlfriend Sylvia Maillis, 37, before turning the handgun on himself. According to police, Maillis was working the 10 PM to 7 AM shift at a Walmart in Salem, Ohio, when she took a break with co-workers at a nearby Taco Bell and Dunkin’ Donuts before returning to the employee parking lot. Kropinak then pulled into a nearby parking space and exited his vehicle. Maillis got out of the vehicle she was in and an argument ensued. Kropinak brandished his Ruger 9mm pistol and shot Maillis multiple times before taking his own life. Maillis had obtained a protection order from Mahoning County against Kropinak in the past, but it was not clear if it was still active at the time of the shooting.
Source: “Deaths ruled murder-suicide,” Salem News, September 9, 2013.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Michael Mitchell CONVICTED
Date: August 8, 2013
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On August 8, 2013, concealed handgun permit holder Michael Mitchell, 38, allegedly shot and killed 38-year-old Marie Cantwell at approximately 3:00 AM in the home that he shared with Cantwell and her three daughters, ages 10 to 14. Their mother’s body was discovered at 11:00 AM later that morning by Cantwell’s 13-year-old daughter. Mitchell, who had a concealed carry permit and was known to carry a gun, allegedly fled after the shooting and was described as “armed and dangerous.” As the county sheriff told the local paper, “When you could shoot somebody and kill somebody with that person’s three children in the house, I consider him armed and dangerous.”
UPDATE: On June 13, 2014, Michael Mitchell was convicted of murder and tampering with evidence in the death of Marie Cantwell. Mitchell was sentenced to 24 years to life in prison with a mandatory 21 years without parole. During sentencing the judge noted that he was handing down the maximum sentence because Mitchell did not call 911 after the shooting, and “actively prevented help from reaching” Cantwell.
Source: “Mitchell found guilty of murder,” wtov9.com, June 14, 2014; “Murder suspect still at large,” Morning Journal News, August 9, 2013.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Bruce Hively CONVICTED
Date: April 4, 2013
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On April 4, 2013, concealed handgun permit holder Bruce Hively, 56, allegedly shot and killed Charles T. Addis, 18, following a confrontation. According to news reports there had been an ongoing dispute between the two men. Hively reportedly drove past Addis who was with two other males at an intersection, then turned back around to where Addis was standing. Hively reportedly exited his vehicle and a confrontation ensued. Hively allegedly shot Addis four times at close range including twice when Addis was already on the ground. Hively was taken into custody at the scene and was charged with murder, aggravated murder, and tampering with evidence.
UPDATE: On November 7, 2013, Bruce Hively was found guilty of aggravated murder with a gun specification and tampering with evidence. He was found not guilty on a separate murder count.
Source: “UPDATE: Hively Convicted of Killing Gallia County Teen,” wsaz.com, November 7, 2013; “UPDATE: Man Indicted in Murder of 18-Year-Old,” wsaz.com, April 12, 2013; “Hively charged with murder, aggravated murder,” Gallipolis Daily Tribune, April 9, 2013.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Jeremy Ammons UNINTENTIONAL
Date: June 24, 2012
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On June 24, 2012, concealed handgun permit holder Jeremy Ammons, 36, unintentionally shot himself in the head while waving a gun he was showing to relatives. He died the next day. According to witnesses, Ammon had been showing off the gun he kept with his concealed carry permit. Police said Ammons had removed the gun’s ammunition magazine and cleared a round from the chamber, but somehow at the time he was waving the gun there was a round in the chamber.
Source: “Accidental shooting kills Ohio man,” The Journal Gazette, June 26, 2012.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: David A. Ramey CONVICTED
Date: February 15, 2012
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On February 15, 2012, concealed carry permit holder David A. Ramey, 38, allegedly shot and killed his wife, Stephanie, 28, with two shots from a 38 Special revolver. That morning, Ramey arrived at the trailer that he and his wife shared with his mother (he had been absent from the home for the past two days due to “troubles” the couple was having). Ramey asked where his wife was and his mother, who was watching television, told him that she was in the bedroom. According to Ramey’s mother, “I heard her say, ‘no,’ and then two shots.” Ramey’s wife was shot once in the stomach and once in the head. On his way out, Ramey took the phone cord out of the telephone and told his mother that he would kill her if she tried to get help. Ramey left in his red Ford pickup truck but was later stopped by police, who found a revolver with two spent shells on the passenger seat. According to law enforcement who interviewed Ramey, “He said that he was angry. He said that he had caught his wife cheating with someone else.” In March 2012 Ramey was indicted by a grand jury and charged with aggravated murder, murder and disrupting public service. Both murder charges had gun specifications attached.
UPDATE: On June 25, 2012, David Ramey pled guilty to one count of aggravated murder. He was sentenced to life in prison and will be eligible for parole after 25 years served.
Sources: “Guilty plea entered in Ramey murder case,” mydailyregister.com, June 26, 2012; “Update: Gallia County Man Indicted in Wife’s Murder,” WSAZ NewsChananel 3, March 16, 2012; “Grand jury to hear case against shooting suspect,” Gallipolis Daily Tribune, February 26, 2012.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Brian Scott Kolesar SUICIDE
Date: October 17, 2011
People Killed: 2 (including shooter)
Circumstances: On October 17, 2011, concealed handgun permit holder Brian Scott Kolesar, 33, shot his girlfriend, Julie Arnold, 35, and her father, Charles W. Cheadle, 75, along an Ohio highway before turning his gun on himself. The three had been riding in a maroon Honda when Kolesar shot Cheadle and then Arnold. Both Cheadle and Kolesar died, while Arnold was admitted to the hospital with two gunshot wounds to the chest. Arnold and Kolesar had been involved in what press accounts characterized as a “troubled relationship” to the point where in March 2011 Arnold obtained a protective order against Kolesar. In court documents Arnold stated, “I’m asking for this protection order because I’m afraid if he gets the opportunity to harm me he will….He has threatened the life of our child many times….He has threatened to take his own life several times….I feel he is not stable and could use a weapon at any time.” The next month, Arnold asked the court to dismiss the protective order since Kolesar had moved to a treatment facility in Florida. At the time of the shooting, Kolesar was living in the home that Arnold and Cheadle shared. The shooting occurred after Arnold reported that she’d thought Kolesar had put laundry detergent in their child’s baby bottle and that she wanted him to move out of the home. After the police were called, he agreed to move out if he could retrieve some items from a storage locker. The three were making this trip when the murder-suicide occurred.
Source: “Shooter had history of violence,” Newark Advocate, October 20, 2011; “Licking County shooting victim had sought protection,” LancasterEagleGazete.com, October 19, 2011.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Mark Langlois CONVICTED
Date: January 27, 2011
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On January 27, 2011, concealed handgun permit holder Mark Langlois, 51, a mechanic at Forklifts of Toledo, Inc., shot and killed James Schueler, Jr., 65, the company’s vice president and general manager. Schueler was found behind his desk with a single gunshot wound to the head. At trial, ballistics experts testified that the shell casing found at the crime scene matched Langlois’ 9mm Glock pistol. Langlois told detectives that he left the office the morning of the shooting and went directly to a job site, but a GPS unit in the van that he was driving showed that he went to his home first before proceeding to the job site and surveillance video showed that he left the office about 15 minutes later than he claimed in his interview with police. News reports stated that Langlois’ computer contained a “voluminous” amount of searches on gun websites, including multiple searches for silencers and suppressors. Multiple handguns, ammunition, and gun parts—including spare gun barrels, scopes, and silencers—were taken from Langlois’ home. On November 18, 2011, Langlois was convicted of aggravated murder and murder, both with gun specifications. Later that month he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Source: State v. Langlois, 2013-Ohio-5177, 2 N.E.3d 936, 2013 Ohio App. LEXIS 5392, 2013 WL 6174841; “Life term ordered for workplace murder,” Toledo Blade, November 24, 2011; “Langlois found guilty in boss’ fatal shooting,” Toledo Blade, November 19, 2011; “Jury views murder suspect Mark Langlois’ interview,” Toledo Blade, November 17, 2011.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Shawn Kortz CONVICTED
Date: September 19, 2010
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On September 19, 2010, concealed handgun permit holder Shawn Kortz, 40, strangled friend and neighbor Michael Hollon, 48, after a night of drinking in Kortz’s home. Kortz, a trucker, had been up for 30 hours and had just returned home from an out-of-state trip. During his January 2012 trial, Kortz’s attorney told the jury that his client did not remember fighting with Hollon and that the first thing he did remember was staring at himself in the mirror and wondering why he was covered in blood. He then called his wife, who told him to take a shower and see where he was bleeding from. Soon after Kortz found Hollon dead in his den in a pool of blood, with blood splattered on the room’s walls and ceiling. Kortz then fled, taking his handgun with him. According to news reports, “Kortz took his gun because ‘he had a permit to carry it legally’ and generally took it with him….” He fled to Kentucky in his Dodge Durango with the loaded gun on the truck’s passenger seat. He was eventually apprehended and charged with murder, tampering with evidence, and carrying a firearm while a fugitive from justice.
UPDATE: On January 27, 2012, Shawn Kortz was found guilty of murder in the death of Michael Hollon.
Source: “Man convicted for strangling neighbor,” wdtn.com, January 27, 2012; “Man accused of murder claims he can’t remember events,” Dayton Daily News, January 25, 2012.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Randy Shrodes SUICIDE
Date: September 2, 2010
People Killed: 2 (including shooter)
Circumstances: On September 2, 2010, concealed handgun permit holder Randy Shrodes used a shotgun to kill his wife Amy, before using the gun to take his own life. According to court records, Shrodes had two pending criminal cases against him. The court date of one—failure to control a vehicle and operating a vehicle under the influence—was scheduled for the day of the murder-suicide. In the second case Shrodes was charged with using a weapon while intoxicated and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Shrodes, carrying a passenger, crashed his motorcycle into a median around 10:30 PM on August 22. Because he refused to take a sobriety test, Shrodes was cited for operating a vehicle while under the influence. Shrodes was also in possession of a 38 caliber handgun which resulted in the weapons charge. Shrodes surrendered the handgun to the Highway Patrol on the night of the crash, but had the shotgun and other firearms at home. Shrodes was a former city employee, but was recently unemployed. His father was ex-police chief and former Mayor Lloyd “Bud” Shrodes, who had recently passed away. News reports stated that Shrodes’ son Jeremy “said his father had been going through a rough time but nobody saw this coming.” Police said that they had never responded to a domestic violence call at the couple’s home.
Source: “Police: Man Who Killed Wife, Self Had Criminal Charges Pending,” wtov9.com, September 3, 2010.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Matthew Warmus CONVICTED
Date: April 9, 2010
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On April 9, 2010, Matthew Warmus shot and killed parking lot attendant David Williams, 27, after an argument over a parking space. Both men had concealed handgun permits. Warmus, in downtown Cleveland to attend a Cavaliers NBA basketball game, reportedly argued with Williams over a parking space in the lot Williams oversaw. Police say the fight eventually turned physical. Witnesses told police that Williams tried to give Warmus his money back, but that Warmus walked back to his car, retrieved his gun from the vehicle, and then shot Williams three times: twice in the stomach and then a third shot at close range to the back of the head. While Warmus’ attorney argued self-defense for his client, claiming that Williams had pulled his handgun first, no witnesses saw Williams pull his gun. Warmus was charged with aggravated murder.
UPDATE: On October 28, 2010, Warmus was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison for the murder and an additional three years for using a gun in committing the crime. At sentencing, the judge told Warmus, “If I am contacted 18 years from now for your first parole hearing, I will tell the board that you lacked the courage and honesty to even apologize to the family.”
Source: “Jury finds Matthew Warmus guilty of murder in slaying in parking lot,” Cleveland.com, October 28, 2010; “Parking Lot Shooting Suspect Claims Self-Defense,” www.fox8.com, April 14, 2010; “Man held on $2M bond after fatal parking lot shooting,” www.newsnet5.com, April 13, 2010.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Shamon McDavis CONVICTED
Date: March 4, 2010
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On March 4, 2010, 26-year-old Kelli Walton was fatally shot—allegedly by her on-again, off-again boyfriend, 28-year-old Shamon McDavis—while she held their three-week-old daughter in her arms. The baby, Kloe, was in critical condition after a bullet grazed her head, resulting in a skull fracture. Walton’s three other children—ages nine, six, and three—were home at the time of the shooting but did not witness it. The shooting occurred during an argument between Walton and McDavis over money and other things she wanted for her children. Walton’s mother alerted 911 after one of her granddaughters woke her up and told her she had heard two gunshots. Several hysterical people, some sounding like children, wailed in the background as Walton’s mother called 911. “I think my daughter is dead….Oh no, please Lord. Please, Jesus. Come and get my baby,” Walton told the dispatcher. One neighbor stated after the shooting, “It is spooky to know somebody would kill a mother with a baby in her hands.” McDavis had a concealed handgun permit, but, “Why he’s carrying a gun, I don’t know,” said Homicide Sgt. Bob Liston. McDavis was charged with murder in the death of Walton and felonious assault in the child’s injury.
UPDATE: In January 2011, McDavis pleaded guilty to killing Kelli Watson, and faces a sentence of life in prison without parole.
Source: “Arrest made in mother’s shooting death;” cincinnati.com, March 4, 2010.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Matthew R. Culbertson CONVICTED
Date: February 20, 2010
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: Jerri L. Vernon, 22, died on February 20, 2010, after being unintentionally shot in the stomach by concealed handgun permit holder Matthew R. Culbertson, 26. The two had been drinking with friends during the day at a residence in New Marshfield. Culbertson went outside to load his 40 caliber handgun (which he had purchased less than a month earlier), fired a few rounds, and then came back into the house. When Vernon asked whether the handgun was empty, Culbertson replied, “Let’s see.” Culbertson pointed the gun at Vernon, pulled the trigger, and shot her. Witnesses said the two had not argued prior to the shooting. Sheriff Patrick Kelly stated, “I believe it was just carelessness with a firearm and alcohol. They do not mix.” Culbertson, who had received his concealed handgun permit the prior September, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, a third degree felony.
UPDATE: On November 10, 2010, Culbertson pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and using a weapon while intoxicated, agreeing to spend five years and six months in prison. Culbertson must serve all five years and six months of the sentence and will be on probation for three years after his release, according to the agreement.
Source: “Local man takes plea, sentenced,” The Post, November 12, 2010; “Alcohol a factor in Athens County shooting death;” The Columbus Dispatch.com, February 22, 2010; “Shooting claims life of New Straitsville woman,” The Athens Messenger, February 21, 2010.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Julene Simko CONVICTED
Date: November 18, 2009
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On November 18, 2009, concealed handgun permit holder Julene Simko, 38, allegedly killed her husband Jeremy Simko, 36, by shooting him in the back of the head with a .357 Magnum Smith & Wesson revolver as he slept in their bedroom. Julene Simko claimed that an intruder broke into the house and shot her husband while she was sleeping in another part of the house. The prosecutor noted numerous inconsistencies in her story about why she was sleeping on the third floor and how she was able to tell her husband was bleeding in a nearly pitch black room as he slept on red bed linens. The prosecutor also detailed the security at the Simko residence including door alarms, an alarm on the driveway, guard dogs, and security cameras, none of which detected an intruder. The prosecutor argued at trial, “The defendant here wants you to believe the killer is some mysterious intruder who is somehow able to, perhaps in a Mission: Impossible way, avoid all of the security systems in the house and the property, creep up, shoot her husband in the head at extremely close range without being seen, without being heard and to negotiate back out of the house in the dark without setting off any of the security systems and leave no trace….This court will determine that story is a fantasy, it’s a fiction, it’s like a movie script.” Julene Simko was charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence.
UPDATE: On October 20, 2017, Julene Simko was found guilty of one count of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, and one count of tampering with evidence, along with firearm specifications in the murder of her husband Jeremy Simko. On October 26, 2017, Julene Simko was sentenced to 28 years to life in prison.
Source: “Vermilion woman sentenced 28 years to life for killing husband,” cleveland.com, October 26, 2017; “Julene Simko guilty of murdering her husband in 2009 in Vermilion,” The Morning Journal, October 20, 2017; “Vermilion woman’s murder trial now awaits verdict,” The Morning Journal, September 26, 2017; “Lead investigator continues testimony in Simko murder trial,” The Chronicle-Telegram, September 13, 2017.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Steven Rodvold CONVICTED
Date: September 17, 2009
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On September 17, 2009, concealed handgun permit holder Steven Rodvold, 26, shot and killed his father, Keith Rodvold, 51, with a .357 magnum pistol on the deck of the home they shared. Steven Rodvold claimed he shot his father in self-defense, but according to the sheriff, evidence collected at the scene did not back up his claim. Steven Rodvold shot his father six times in the upper body from a distance of two to three feet. At the time of the shooting, Steven Rodvold was unemployed and low on money and angry at his father for suggesting he reenlist in the army. Steven Rodvold had served in the army for seven and a half years after leaving school at the age of 18, having completed the tenth grade. In May 2010, Steven Rodvold was convicted of one count of murder with an attendant gun specification and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison together with a three-year mandatory consecutive sentence for the gun specification. In
February 2012, an appeals court upheld the conviction.
Source: State of Ohio v. Steven J. Rodvold, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Sixth Appellate District, Huron County, February 17, 2012; “26-year-old son charged in shooting death of father,” morningjournal.com, September 19, 2009.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: David Nesbitt PENDING
Date: July 18, 2009
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On July 18, 2009, five-year-old Zacharia Nesbitt unintentionally shot himself with his father’s 9mm Glock pistol which had been stored in a closet, loaded with a round in the chamber. Zacharia died after the gun discharged and fired a bullet into his right lung. David Nesbitt had a concealed handgun permit for the gun. He was charged with negligent homicide.
Source: “Dad charged in son’s accidental death,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, August 1, 2009.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Emmitt Weaver SUICIDE
Date: April 7, 2009
People Killed: 2 (including shooter)
Circumstances: On April 7, 2009, 66-year-old Emmitt Weaver shot and killed his wife Betty, also 66, with a small caliber handgun and then turned the gun on himself. Deputies found both bodies in the living room of their home. Betty Weaver was lying face down with two gunshot wounds, and Emmitt Weaver was found in his recliner with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The couple had reportedly been arguing, and Emmitt Weaver suffered from an unspecified medical condition. Emmitt Weaver was a hunter, kept several rifles in his home, and had a concealed handgun permit.
Source: “Police investigating murder-suicide,” The News-Messenger, April 9, 2009.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Anthony Rodecker SUICIDE
Date: October 3, 2008
People Killed: 2 (including shooter)
Circumstances: On October 3, 2008, police discovered the bodies of Anthony Rodecker and his ex-girlfriend Brenda Keeler. Both had been shot and a gun was found nearby in what police suspected was a murder-suicide. Rodecker had been banned from the café where Keeler bartended. Her relatives had urged her not to give in to his requests to see her when he threatened to kill himself if she refused. Rodecker had a concealed handgun permit that he obtained in Union County, Ohio.
Source: “2 shot dead on Far West Side; Authorities suspect murder-suicide in deaths of woman, former boyfriend,” Columbus Dispatch, October 4, 2008.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Ashford Thompson CONVICTED
Date: July 13, 2008
People Killed: 1
Law Enforcement Officers Killed: 1
Circumstances: On July 13, 2008, Ashford Thompson shot a police officer four times in the head after he was pulled over for playing loud music. Thompson used a Kel-Tec P11 “pocket pistol” in the shooting. Thompson, who had a concealed handgun permit issued by Cuyahoga County and had received a certificate for completing a concealed-carry class, pled guilty to aggravated murder.
UPDATE: Thompson’s guilty plea was later tossed out by the Ohio Supreme Court because of a technicality. Thompson was then tried by a jury and entered a plea of not guilty. In June 2010 Thompson was found guilty of aggravated murder and escape, among other charges. He was sentenced to death in June 2010.
Source: “Cop Killer Ashford Thompson Sentenced to Death,” FOX8.com, June 23, 2010; “Ashford Thompson found guilty on all counts,” Twinsburgbulletin.com, June 3, 2010; “Accused killer of Twinsburg cop goes on trial,” www.wtam.com, May 17, 2010; “Man indicted in killing of Twinsburg officer,” Plain Dealer, July 22, 2008; “Ashford Thompon’s sentencing hearing set for Oct. 15 in police officer’s murder,” Plain Dealer, June 25, 2009; “Thompson Pleads Guilty In Miktarian Death,” AkronNewsNow.com, April 13, 2009.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Marc Kidby SUICIDE
Date: April 1, 2008
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On April 1, 2008, Marc Kidby died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds to his chest and head from a 38 caliber handgun—his third attempt at suicide. His concealed handgun permit was still active despite being the subject of a protection order obtained by his wife. The local sheriff’s office had failed to suspend his concealed carry permit as required by law.
Source: “Man accused of violence still had gun permit,” The Columbus Dispatch, April 3, 2008.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Geraldine Beasley CONVICTED
Date: August 6, 2007
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On August 6, 2007, Geraldine Beasley shot Donald Francis, who was believed by police to be homeless. Beasley, who was panhandling on the same block as Francis, was angry because he was invading her “turf.” Beasley had a permit to carry a concealed weapon despite paying a fine for unlawfully transporting a firearm in 2003. In February 2008 Beasley pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Source: “Guilty plea entered in shooting death,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, February 28, 2008; “Woman accused of shooting panhandler had weapon permit,” The Chronicle-Telegram, August 11, 2007; “Woman Pleads Guilty in Spare-Change Shooting,” wlwt.com, February 28, 2008; “9-year term for woman who killed homeless man,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, April 5, 2008.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Terrance Hough Jr. CONVICTED
Date: July 4, 2007
People Killed: 3
Circumstances: On July 4, 2007, firefighter Terrance Hough Jr. used a 40 caliber pistol to shoot and kill neighbor Jacob Feichtner as well as Bruce Anderson and Katherine Rosby as a result of a dispute over fireworks the three were setting off. Hough also shot and injured Donny Walsh and Katherine Nicholas. Police seized 12 firearms from Hough’s home after his arrest. Hough’s fellow firefighters described him as a “ticking time bomb that finally exploded,” and one noted, “I hope I’m off the day Hough snaps.” Hough, who had received his concealed handgun permit in 2004, was convicted of three counts of aggravated murder and two counts of attempted murder and was sentenced to life in prison with no parole.
Source: “Judge denies bail for man charged in July Fourth slayings,” Associated Press, July 9, 2007; “Hough Guilty, Could Get Death Penalty,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 16, 2008; “Firefighter gets life sentence in killings over fireworks,” Associated Press, May 22, 2008; “Hough known for bursts of anger,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, July 7, 2007; “Firefighter in fatal shootings may face death penalty,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 8, 2007.