Dead are James W. Stockdale, 21, and Kathryn B. Stockdale, 54, his mother. Sheriff George T. Maier said Jacob T. Stockdale, 25, fired a shotgun at his mother and brother, killing them, then shot himself. He was taken by ambulance to Canton’s Aultman Hospital and then by helicopter to Cleveland Metro Hospital, where he was listed Thursday morning in critical condition, the sheriff said.
BETHLEHEM TWP. Tragedy struck a family Thursday known for its wholesomeness and bluegrass music.
The Stark County Sheriff’s Office said two members of the Stockdale family are dead and a third was hospitalized after a son shot his mother and brother then turned the weapon on himself.
The violent scene played out at the family farm Thursday afternoon on Dolphin Street SW. It was Stark County’s fifth and sixth shooting deaths since Sunday.
Dead are James W. Stockdale, 21, and Kathryn B. Stockdale, 54, his mother. Sheriff George T. Maier said Jacob T. Stockdale, 25, fired a shotgun at his mother and brother, killing them, then shot himself. He was taken by ambulance to Canton’s Aultman Hospital and then by helicopter to Cleveland Metro Hospital, where he was listed Thursday morning in critical condition, the sheriff said.
Maier said a 911 call came in at 4:36 p.m. as a hang-up. He said storms were occurring at the time and cellphone reception is spotty in the rural area. Two deputies were sent to the home in the 9000 block of Dolphin Street. SW to investigate and found the bodies and the injured Stockdale when they entered the home. Authorities weren’t sure who made the 911 call.
Maier said Thursday night that he did not yet know what sparked the shootings.
“We didn’t see anything that would raise suspicion (indicate an intruder or drug or alcohol use). It’s another tragedy in our community,” the sheriff said, referring to homicides earlier this week in Lake Township and Canton.
The sheriff had no other details about the shotgun used or how many shots were fired. The Stark County Coroner’s Office was at the scene and crime scene investigators were collecting evidence.
Read an update on this story: Sheriff: Jacob Stockdale shot himself as deputies arrived
Information on assisting the family from Zion Reformed Church (PCA) in Winesburg, Ohio.
Here is Jacob Stockdale performing with the Philharmonic.
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