Local rampage kills 7, wounds another one

[Benevolent One]

Identity of final Copley massacre victim released
Posted: Aug 07, 2011 11:30 AM EDT


COPLEY TOWNSHIP, OH (WOIO) - Police have released the identity of the final victim in Sunday's massacre in Copley.

16-year-old Amelia Shambaugh was among the seven killed at the hands of madman Michael Hance.

The 51-year-old lunatic fatally shot seven people before being killed by police. One of the victims is an 11-year-old boy.

The shootings started around 11AM at 2389 Goodenough, a home where Hance lived with his girlfriend, 49-year-old Rebecca Dieter. She was shot multiple times, but is the sole survivor in the massacre. She is currently hospitalized in unknown condition.

Hance then went to 2401 Goodenough, and opened fire. Five people were shot and killed. 16-year-old Autumn Johnson was shot in a car in the driveway. Amelia Shambaugh was also inside the car, and was fatally wounded.

"Then we believe the suspect pursued Bryan Johnson at another individual along a path northward toward 1178 Schocolag, where Bryan Johnson's body was found in the driveway," said Det. Joe Krunich, Copley Police Dept.

Autumn's father - 44-year-old Bryan Johnson - also shot and killed. 51-year-old Craig Dieter, 67-year-old Russell Johnson and Gudrun Johnson all fatally wounded by Hance.

Hance then tracked down 11-year-old Scott Dieter, Craig Dieter's son and Rebecca Dieter's nephew, hiding in the basement of a home he sought refuge in. Hance fatally shot the child in cold blood.

"We're also learning there were some other folks in that home he made no effort to harm in anyway, shape or form...so that's one of the puzzles here. Why was he going after the child?" asked Copley Police Chief Michael Mier.

The madman was then confronted by a Copley police officer and private citizen, who is also a retired cop. Hance threatened the two men and they opened fired, killing him.

Hance had no prior criminal record.

Police are still working to determine a motive.

The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office, the Copley Police Department, the Akron Police Department, the Summit County Sheriff's Department and the Ohio BCI are all investigating.

Donations can be made to the Johnson Family Memorial Fund at any Akron-area PNC Bank.

Copyright 2011 WOIO. All rights reserved.

 

[Benevolent One]

On a side note, this guy was voted Most Courteous in his high school yearbook in 1979.

I really wonder why he went after the 11 year old boy so hard. Of course, I also wonder what the breaking point was for this guy. I kind of suspect it had something to do with something the kid did that just set him off. Not that the kid deserved to die for whatever it was, I'm just trying to figure this thing out.

They said that the guy was angry with these people for complaining about the condition of his property, including a vehicle on blocks. People that bi+ch about other people's property really hack me off too, but not nearly enough to just start whacking people. Then again, the guy obviously wasn't right mentally in the first place.

 

[SST55]

We'll never know as the reason died with him. I know that first responders here have been told to expect a rise in suicides and domestic abuse calls due to the high rate of high unemployment here.

 

[fergy1370]

I know that first responders here have been told to expect a rise in suicides and domestic abuse calls due to the high rate of high unemployment here.

We have had a drastic increase in suicides...all age groups, all ethnicities, and both sexes. We've also had murder-suicides increase....

 

[SlowNeasy]

hmm, some people need to try the suicide bit first before taking out whatever is bothering them on other people. not that suicide is a good thing, but it's a hell of a lot better than murder.