News
Four Dead In Hocking County Stand-Off
By: Associated Press, Cheri Russo
Posted on:
Update 5:29 p.m. A coroner says at least eight gunshots were fired during an Ohio murder-suicide that left four dead in what police say was a dispute over what a terminally ill woman should
Update 1:30 pm
Counselors are on hand at Westerville North High School in suburban Columbus after a teacher was killed in a shooting rampage in Hocking County.
Principal Kurt Yancey says Leroy Gilkey, 38, had been a teacher at the school since 1999.
Hocking County Sheriff Lanny North says Gilkey was killed by his father after an argument over what his terminally ill mother should be given to eat.
Investigators say Paul Gilkey shot three people and then turned the gun on himself.
Sheriff North says that Paul Gilkey was upset that relatives had given his wife tea and toast after he had already peeled an orange for her.
North says the dispute over food set Gilkey off, and that during an argument he retrieved a handgun from his bedroom, then killed his own son and two of his wife's sisters Monday afternoon.
Principal Yancey says Leroy Gilkey taught spanish and was loved by the students.
"Obviously, this is a very sad day for our staff, students and families of Westerville North High School. He was a well-loved, well-respected member of our school family, an incredible teacher, a great friend and a valued colleague who certainly made a positive impact on the lives of countless numbers of people," says Yancey.
Yancey says students and teachers at Westerville North are coming together to try and cope with the loss.
"It's a big shock for them. They are really pulling together as a family and trying to cope with the loss of a beloved teacher and they're doing a wonderful job of supporting one another and the teachers are doing the same and I think we're all supporting one another as a community cause it's a very tough loss," says Yancey.
Sheriff North says Leroy Gilkey's mother, Darlene Gilkey, 59, witnessed the shootings from a hospital bed in the living room but wasn't hurt.
North says Darlene Gilkey is dying from cancer.
Update 12:40 p.m. An Ohio sheriff says an argument over what a terminally ill woman should be given to eat apparently triggered a shooting that left four people dead, including the gunman.
Update 12:09 pm An Ohio sheriff says a man argued with family members over the care his sick wife was receiving, then shot to death two of his sisters-in-law and his son.
Hocking County Sheriff Lanny North said Tuesday that Paul Gilkey then walked out onto his front porch, sat in a chair and shot and killed himself. His wife was not shot.
North says Gilkey's stepson, Ralph Sowers III, escaped after Gilkey ordered him out of the house.
Killed at the home Monday afternoon were Barbara Mohler, 70, of New Straitsville and Dorothy Cherry, 63, of New Plymouth, both the sisters of Gilkey's wife, Darlene Gilkey.
Also killed was Paul Gilkey's son Leroy Gilkey, 38, of Columbus.
North said Paul Gilkey left the living room during an argument, returned with a handgun and began shooting.
Updated 10:03 a.m. School officials say one of four people killed in an apparent murder-suicide in Ohio was a loved and respected high school Spanish teacher.
The Hocking County Sheriff's Office says a man shot and killed his wife's two sisters and his son before turning the gun on himself.
Sheriff Lanny North told reporters some sort of family squabble led to Monday's deadly shooting near Logan.
Deputies were called to a house about 5 miles north of Logan at about 5:30 p.m. for a possible hostage situation.
They stormed the house at about 9 p.m.
According to The Columbus Dispatch Keith Gilkey of Kentucky confirms his brother Paul Gilkey, 63, was the shooter.
The man says his brother was stressed over caring for his terminally ill wife. He says his brother killed his two sisters-in-law and his son and then killed himself.
Authorities wouldn't confirm the names of those dead.
The newspaper says the wife's son from another marriage escaped.
The wife, who has cancer, remained in the home and wasn't shot.
The Dispatch says state records show Paul Gilkey served a prison term for murder in the 1970s and 1980s.