Ohio Church Shooting: Son Allegedly Kills Father on Easter

Richard Riddle, 52, was shot outside his Church after Easter services March 31. Media reports say the shooter was his son, police are investigating.
Ohio Church Shooting: Son Allegedly Kills Father on Easter
Steve Sargent, Associate Pastor at Hiawatha Church in Ashtabula, Ohio, speaks to the Associated Press, March 31. (Screenshot of Associated Press report taken by The Epoch Times)
By
4/1/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

Ohio Church Shooting:  Police are investigating a shooting outside a church in northeast Ohio.

ASHTABULA, Ohio — Richard Riddle, 52, was shot outside his Church after Easter services March 31.  Media reports say the shooter was his son, police are investigating.

A member of the Hiawatha Church of God in Christ said the man was shot soon after Easter services ended, around 1:15 p.m. Sunday. 

 

Ashtabula Police Chief Robert Stell told the Star Beacon in Ashtabula that dispatchers received multiple calls about the shooting from inside the church and that a mass shooting was feared. He said at least six other law enforcement agencies rushed to assist local police.

The Plain Dealer newspaper in Cleveland reported that the church’s pastor said congregants were leaving when they heard a gunshot.

“People pushed me into a back office and said, ‘Somebody’s here with a gun,’” said the Rev. David Howard Jr. “The guy was outside hollering and acting crazy.”

There were no immediate reports of any other injuries.

Howard said the church has about 175 members. He said people at the church didn’t know what led up to the shooting.

 

“It’s such a tragic loss,” Crockett said.

County Coroner Pamela Lancaster told the Star Beacon that Riddle’s wound was “immediately fatal.” She said the body will be transferred to the Cuyahoga County coroner’s office for autopsy.

The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 21 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.