Police: Man shoots girlfriend, accidentally kills himself
NEWARK — Police say a man has died after accidentally shooting himself in his car and then chasing and shooting his girlfriend before collapsing on a central Ohio street.
Newark police say 29-year-old Phillip Lee Parker and his girlfriend had a confrontation in a parking lot and she sped off in her car, followed by Parker. Police say both cars struck other vehicles, with Parker apparently accidentally shooting himself in a collision before getting out and firing at his girlfriend. He collapsed and died.
Police say the woman was shot once and hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening.
Police Chief Barry Connell says officers had been searching for Parker since Sunday when the woman reported he recently had held her at gunpoint and threatened to kill her and her family.
Cleveland mayor’s grandson indicted on gun charges
CLEVELAND — A relative of Cleveland’s mayor has been indicted on weapons charges.
Cleveland.com reports Frank Jackson Jr., grandson of Mayor Frank Jackson, was indicted Friday for carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.
In a statement, the Democratic mayor called his grandson’s arrest “deeply personal and painful.”
Records show Frank Jackson Jr. was the passenger in a truck stopped for blocking traffic in Cleveland. Officers say they found a .40-caliber bullet in the car and a gun in the center console. Officers say the younger Jackson told them he had a gun clip in his pocket.
Jackson’s attorney said during his bond hearing that he is “anxious to resolve this matter.”
The 17-year-old truck driver has been charged with weapons offenses in juvenile court.
Township trustee’s death ruled undetermined
MEDINA — Officials say the cause of death in the case of a township trustee found in a lake has been ruled as undetermined.
The Medina County Coroner says Lafayette Township Trustee Bryon Macron was found with six stab wounds, but none of those alone caused his death. The coroner says there was not enough evidence to rule his death a suicide, but the Medina Sheriff’s Office says evidence indicates no one other than Macron himself was involved in his death.
Macron was reported missing Dec. 16, 2017. Later that day, authorities found his office in disarray and discovered his vehicle parked in a lot at Chippewa Lake.
His body was found in the lake by a kayaker Feb. 21.
An investigation is ongoing.
Trial begins for man charged in trooper’s death
CLEVELAND — Jurors are being chosen for the trial of a driver suspected of fatally hitting a state trooper along a Cleveland highway.
Cleveland.com reports that jury selection began Monday for 38-year-old Joshua Gaspar, of Columbia Station.
He is charged in the September death of Trooper Kenneth Velez. Gaspar previously pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated vehicular homicide and causing an officer’s death while driving recklessly or under the influence of drugs.
Prosecutors say Gaspar hit Velez on Interstate 90 after swerving to avoid a stopped car. Prosecutors have said that Gaspar took methadone shortly before the crash and didn’t have a proper license.
His attorney has said that Gaspar took a dose of methadone prescribed to address a drug addiction, and that his license was valid.
Ex fire marshal’s deputy promoted to top job
REYNOLDSBURG — Ohio’s chief deputy state fire marshal has become the state’s top fire official.
The Department of Commerce says Jeff Hussey is the new state fire marshal, a job he had filled on an interim basis for the past couple of months. He succeeds Larry Flowers, who retired in May after six years in that role.
Hussey is a retired Granville fire chief who previously worked at the Mifflin Township Fire Department.
His new appointment took effect Sunday. He’s scheduled to have a formal swearing-in ceremony on Aug. 8 at the fire marshal’s office in Reynoldsburg, east of Columbus.
The division is responsible for fire safety education, regulation, investigation and enforcement and training firefighters.
