COPLEY -- Police have identified the gunman in a shooting spree that claimed seven lives in Copley as Michael Hance, 51.
Police say Hance's live-in girlfriend, Rebecca Dieter, 49, remains hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds. There is no word on her condition.
Hance and Rebecca Dieter lived on Goodenough Avenue one of the first sites involved in the rampage. All together police say there are four locations in the case and say they are still trying to piece together what happened. No direct motive has been determined according to police.
At a midday news conference, police also confirmed that an 11-year-old boy, Scott Dieter, a son of another victim, Craig Dieter, was the last victim. Hance went after the boy who was trying to escape and had attempted to take refuge in a home on Schocalog.
Hance cornered the boy in a basement and shot him, while sparing the others inside the home.
Craig Dieter is Rebecca Dieter's brother. Scott Dieter is her nephew. Craig and Scott were visiting from Kentucky according to police and staying with Dieter.
The other victims are identified as:
- Russell Johnson and his wife, Gudrun, 64 of Goodenough Avenue. The couple lived next door to Hance and Rebecca Dieter.
- Bryan Johnson, the couple's son.
- Autumn Johnson, 16, Bryan Johnson's daughter
- Copley Township teenage girl, 16, still unnamed until family members notified.
Police caught up to Hance on Schocalog and shot him after he refused to obey commands to drop his weapon.
Police say Hance had no prior criminal record.
Autopsies are planned on the seven victims beginning today.
A woman who worked as a caregiver for Russell and Gudrun Johnson told the Associated Press that Hance was not well liked.
She claims the shootings may have been the result of an estate dispute involving the will of Rebecca Dieter's late parents. The Johnsons has been longtime friends of the parents and had become involved in the dispute.
Police have not speculated on a possible motive.
WKYC-TV/The Associated Press