Police: Ohio Shooting of 8 People Occurred at 4 Locations
Investigators of the Ohio shooting that left eight people dead, including the gunman himself, said Monday that there are four different crime scenes where the rampage took place.
On Sunday, Michael Hance went on a shooting spree, killing seven victims and injuring one. The 51-year-old gunman was then killed in a gunfire exchange with police.
“This is a terrible tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends who lost their lives yesterday,” said Copley Police Chief Mike Mier at a news conference Monday.
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Police confirmed that two Copley-Fairlawn High School students, Autumn Johnson, 16-years-old and another 16-year-old student, whose name is being withheld until her family has been notified, were killed.
Bryan Johnson, Autumn’s father, along with her grandparents, Russell and Gudrun Johnson were also shot and killed by Hance.
Craig Dieter and his 11-year-old son, Scott Dieter, were visiting Hance’s girlfriend, Rebecca Dieter, when Hance opened gunfire and killed them.
Rebecca is in intensive care at a local hospital after being shot multiple times by Hance.
The Dieter family released a statement that said, “Our family has suffered a loss too deep for words, Please respect our privacy as we grieve. Thank you to all. Continue to pray for us.”
According to officers, Hance shot his girlfriend then ran to a neighboring home and shot her brother and four others. Hance then chased two bystanders through backyards, shooting one outside a house. He went inside another home and shot someone there.
Gilbert Elie told the Associated Press a slightly varied account. He said he walked outside after hearing the gunshots and saw the body of one of his neighbors lying in her driveway. Elie stated that her husband was shot close to the garage and that their granddaughter and another woman were shot in the front seat of a vehicle.
According to Elie, a third woman came out of the house next door and tried to talk to him before a man followed her out and shot her.
“She was talking to me, and he come up behind her and shot her, so I figured, maybe I’m next,” Elie told the AP.
Elie said he ran and hid behind a truck until the man left. He then heard a round of shots after local authorities arrived and figured police had killed the gunman.
Officials are still investigating the order in which the victims were shot.
Police say that Hance used two handguns in the killing spree, but it is not yet known if he reloaded the gun or how many shots were fired.
Hance has no prior record and the motive still remains a mystery. Police are still continuing to investigate.
Autopsies for Hance and the seven people killed during the shooting rampage were scheduled for Monday.
Yesterday, around 200 people attended a candlelight vigil for the victims.
“It’s unfortunate something of this magnitude took place,” said Mier.
