A man in Ohio ambushed his wife while she was leaving their home, resulting in the deaths of their two children and the father of her eldest child, before turning the gun on himself, according to police reports.
Ryan Egon, 42, carried out this tragic act Wednesday night after discovering that his wife planned to move out of their Seneca County residence due to ongoing domestic issues. He reportedly killed their 7-month-old and 7-year-old child, as well as the father of her older son, as noted by the Tiffin Police Department.
“As a community, we are not used to events of this horrifying and heartbreaking nature in Tiffin,” remarked Police Chief David Pauley in a Facebook update.
“I ask residents to keep the families of the victims in your thoughts as they face unimaginable loss,” he added.
Fortunately, Egon’s wife was unharmed during the incident, as she was in the process of packing her belongings with her father, Dustin Willey, 29, while the children waited by the car.
It seems they thought Egon was away from home. While packing, they heard their older child crying and went to investigate, only to encounter Egon in the driveway.
In a horrifying sequence, the armed father pursued Willey and fired several shots, fatally harming both children. Police reported that Egon then directed fire at his wife’s co-parent before ultimately taking his own life.
The devastated mother, described by police as “shocked, overwhelmed, and visibly traumatized,” contacted authorities and returned home with her deceased children. Both the infant and Egon were declared dead at the scene, while the 7-year-old and Willey were rushed to a local hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
A community vigil is scheduled for Sunday evening at 6 p.m. on East Green at E. Market Street, according to police announcements.
Willey’s former boss, Kelly Gallagher, recalled him as a devoted father who would do anything for his son. “He was a good father. He would do anything for that child,” she expressed.
“He showed me what it was like to be a single father and how to be present in a child’s life. Especially knowing this happened to someone with such a big heart. It’s tragic because he was the kindest person. Losing him is like losing a family member,” Gallagher said.
Authorities have confirmed that an autopsy is being conducted by the Seneca County Coroner’s Office, and the investigation is still ongoing.
