Grand Jury Clears Man In Fatal Shooting At Gas Station

(News/Talk 1480 WHBC) – A Stark County grand jury has declined to indict a man involved in a fatal shooting at a gas station last fall.

The shooting happened on October 6th in the parking lot of the B.P. on Tuscarawas Street West near Interstate 77.

On that Saturday afternoon, police officers were on patrol in the area when they heard gunshots.

Officers quickly located a person lying in the parking lot of the gas station.

He had been shot in the chest. He was pronounced dead at Aultman Hospital.

Officers took the shooter into custody and secured his gun.

The shooter’s attorney says his client fired his weapon, which he has a concealed carry permit for, in self-defense after being attacked by a man with a knife.

The Stark County Prosecutor’s Office provided WHBC News the following statement on the grand jury’s decision.

“Over the course of several weeks, the grand jury heard testimony from a number of witnesses and reviewed the evidence presented.”

“The grand jury was instructed on crimes regarding homicide, as well as the affirmative defense of self defense. After hearing the evidence and being instructed on the relevant law, the grand jury declined to issue an indictment.”

Earlier this year a legal provision went into effect in Ohio shifting the burden of proof in self defense cases away from the defendant and onto the prosecution.