Bedford bowling coach identified as shooter in murder-suicide with 17-year-old
The Monroe County Sheriff determined the tragic death of a 17-year-old student at Beford High School as a murder-suicide.
She was allegedly killed by a 33-year-old man who coached the school's bowling team.
It's unclear if the two had a relationship.
(FOX 2) - Police are investigating the discovery of two people with gunshot wounds in a Bedford Township home late last week as a murder-suicide.
A 17-year-old student of Bedford Schools was allegedly killed by her bowling coach, the Monroe County Sheriff said Wednesday.
Big picture view
Monroe County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to 1641 W Sterns Road in Bedford Township on June 14 after a report of two dead people being discovered.
Police identified the victim as Gwendolyn Faye Smith of Temperance, and the suspect as 33-year-old Ryan Jacob Leist. He allegedly shot her multiple times after gaining entry to her home before turning the gun on himself.
"Gwendolyn's stepfather arrived home to find Gwendolyn and the suspect, with apparent gunshot wounds," Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough said Wednesday.
Both knew each other through the bowling team, with Smith competing while Leist was a coach who worked at the bowling alley Forest Lanes. He was an unpaid employee with the school district and was instead paid through the local bowling establishment.
Goodnough did not know if the two had a prior relationship or why they were together over the weekend.
The sheriff added that Leist had recently resigned from his position with the bowling alley, but did not know why. He also said there was no current evidence to indicate they were in a romantic relationship.
There is communication between the two that the police are reviewing, however.
Dig deeper
The discovery was made just days before police were called to a separate shooting involving two teenagers enrolled at a nearby community school.
"It's been tragic," Goodnough said through tears on Wednesday. "It's been a significant impact on our community. The tranquility - if you look at it from a general perspective, we're a farming community, rural, some urban areas as well."
But for the most part, you know, we're 155,000 people. Everybody knows everybody," he added.
What you can do
Goodnough said the Temperance Bedford School District had activated its crisis team to assist anyone struggling with the circumstances.
---
If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and veterans. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255. Or text to 741-741
The Source
xxyyzz
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Clevenger concedes to Rhyne in race for Spartanburg County Sheriff
Bill Rhyne opened a large lead in early returns for Spartanburg County Sheriff, prompting a concession from his opponent, Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Cleveger The two faced off in a runoff in the Republican Party primary. "The voters have spoken -- we just didn't have the numbers," Clevenger told the Herald-Journal at about 8 p.m. "I can't say enough about the people who have supported me. I appreciate them more than they may ever know." Clevenger was reelected as coroner in 2024. "We'll move forward as part of the team with a new sheriff," he said. Following the resignation of former Sheriff Chuck Wright in May, Clevenger and Rhyne were among nine candidates to file for the Republican nomination for November's special election. There's no Democrat on the November ballot. Rhyne and Clevenger previously served in the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office before taking different career paths. Clevenger has served as Spartanburg County coroner since 2009. Rhyne went to work with the South Carolina Highway Patrol, where he served as the lead public information and community engagement officer. During the primary -- especially the two weeks before the Aug. 19 runoff -- Clevenger touted his experience while Rhyne described himself as "the change candidate." This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Voter turnout 'solid' in Spartanburg Republican primary runoff race Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man who lied to police in parking lot shooting sentenced to jail
Aug. 19—ROCHESTER — A man who falsely told police he fired the gun at the scene of a fatal shooting was given six months in jail for giving a false statement to investigators. Jose Abraham Gutierrez Ojeda, 28, was sentenced in Olmsted County District Court Tuesday, Aug. 19, on a felony charge of aiding an offender. He admitted to telling police it was he, and not his brother, who shot and killed a man in a Chick-fil-A parking lot in Rochester in February 2024. Video and witness accounts confirm it was Isaac Gutierrez, Jose's brother, who fired the shot that killed Osbel Ornelas, 24, during a fight in the Chick-fil-A parking lot on South Broadway in Rochester on Feb. 3, 2024. Video shows Jose was the first to exit the car after the car he was in nearly struck the car Ornelas was driving. Jose displayed a pistol and later put the weapon back into the car and scuffled with Ornelas. Isaac then retrieved the firearm and shot Ornelas in the head. Jose pleaded guilty in February this year to the charge. Jose apologized to members of Ornelas' family, at least one of whom was in the courtroom Tuesday. "I can't imagine their loss," he said. "I want them to know I'm truly sorry." Jose said he didn't intend to hinder the police investigation of the shooting but was only trying to protect his brother. "I felt responsible for my little brother and what happened that day," he said. On that point, Judge Kathy M. Wallace, who presided over the proceeding Tuesday, agreed. "I think you truly realize that this wouldn't have occurred but for your actions," Wallace said to Jose. However, Wallace disagreed with Jose and his attorney's attorney, Eric Olson, who both said Jose's statement to police was made out of regret, remorse and sense of protectiveness for his younger brother who did pull the trigger. Olson also said the statements didn't hinder the investigation into the incident thanks to witness statements and video. "I don't find it to be an impulsive decision," Wallace said, noting that after the shooting Jose took the gun from Isaac and switched seats in the car with his brother before giving his false statement. "The fact that law enforcement figured it out is not attributable to the defendant," Wallace said. "It was because of the police work." Olson asked Wallace to lower the offense to a gross misdemeanor and not impose a prison sentence. Instead, Wallace imposed a 75-month sentence that will be stayed as long as Jose complies with terms of his probation. She ordered Jose to serve 90 days in jail beginning immediately with the possibility of work release and to serve another 90-day sentence beginning on the anniversary of the 2024 murder. Isaac was convicted by a jury of the murder and sentenced to five years in prison. The state is appealing the sentence arguing it's too lenient.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kilmar Abrego Garcia's attorneys move to dismiss criminal case
Kilmar Abrego Garcia's attorneys accused federal prosecutors on Tuesday of "vindictive and selective prosecution" in a motion seeking to dismiss the criminal charges against him. Abrego Garcia could be released from Tennessee criminal custody on Friday, when U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Holmes's temporary stay is set to expire. This comes after a separate judge ruled last month that Abrego Garcia must be returned to Maryland if he is released. In the 25-page filing, Abrego Garcia's attorneys argued that the government charged him "because he refused to acquiesce in the government's violation of his due process rights." MORE: Justice Department investigating 2022 Abrego Garcia traffic stop: Sources "Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been singled out by the United States government," his attorneys said. The Salvadoran native was deported in March to El Salvador's CECOT mega-prison -- despite a 2019 court order barring his deportation due to fear of persecution -- after the Trump administration claimed he was a member of the criminal gang MS-13, which he denies. He was brought back to the U.S. in May to face charges in Tennessee of allegedly transporting undocumented migrants. In the filing on Tuesday, the attorneys said that Abrego Garcia was "sent on his way without so much as a traffic ticket" after the Tennessee Highway Patrol stopped their client in 2022. "Yet three years later, unrelatedly, the government picked Mr. Abrego up off the street—along with others with similar immigration status—as part of a shock-and-awe immigration enforcement push," they said. MORE: Timeline: Wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador After Abrego Garcia's wrongful removal, the attorneys said the government "responded not with contrition, or with any effort to fix its mistake, but with defiance." "A group of the most senior officials in the United States sought vengeance: they began a public campaign to punish Mr. Abrego for daring to fight back, culminating in the criminal investigation that led to the charges in this case," they said. Abrego Garcia's attorneys said in their filing the government is using the criminal case to punish their client for "successfully fighting his unlawful removal." "That is a constitutional violation of the most basic sort," they said. "The indictment must be dismissed."
