An Ohio woman in line at a Taco Bell drive-thru with her dog was fatally shot before the gunman turned the gun on himself in a shocking murder-suicide Wednesday night.
Megan Keleman sat in the driver’s seat as she ordered food at the fast food chain when Jason Williams, 53, rammed the rear of her car just before 7:20 p.m. in Stow, Ohio, according to police.
The 25-year-old, who graduated from Cleveland State University in May, told a Taco Bell employee on the other end of the speaker to call 911.
Williams had exited his car and shot Keleman before shooting himself, Stow Police Chief Jeffrey Film said Thursday at a press conference, according to Cleveland19.
Witnesses told detectives that the gunman began blowing his horn at Keleman after she pulled in front of him entering the drive-thru line.
Both Keleman and Williams were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Summit County Medical Examiner identified both and noted Keleman was a homicide victim and died from gunshot wounds to the neck.
Williams’ death was ruled a suicide from a gunshot to the head.
“We have no information to indicate that the two subjects knew each other,” Film said
“As chief of police and a community leader, I would like to say that this is a true tragedy. Not only the Kelemans lost a daughter, but we as a community lost one of our daughters.”
Police discovered during their investigation that Keleman had called her father, presumably after her car was struck, according to bodycam footage obtained by the outlet.
“I’m gonna stay on the line, I’m coming right up there,” Keleman’s father can be heard telling an officer.
Police have not discovered a motive behind the tragic shooting and “may never know why.”
Keleman’s family said they were “enduring an immensely painful loss” following the death of their daughter.
“We appreciate the community’s support and hope that our request for privacy will be honored so that we can continue to focus on supporting each other through this difficult period,” the family said in a statement.
While Film said Williams had only one OVI arrest on his record, he was arrested in April for several offenses including a weapons charge.
He was indicted on April 14 for improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and or drugs, according to court records viewed by The Post.
He was released on a $5,000 bond in May, under the condition of not possessing any firearms, WOIO reported.
Keleman earned her Masters degree in Business Administration from CSU in May. She majored in Finance and Financial Management Services and was described as an “active leader on campus.”
She helped lead campus tours, organized student orientations around CSU and served as the editor-in-chief of the university’s student newspaper, “The Cauldron.”
“We send our deepest sympathies to Megan’s family, friends and loved ones. We have lost a caring, engaged and optimistic member of the CSU community,” CSU President Dr. Laura Bloomberg said.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
