15-05-2025
‘I'm in shock': Friends mourn victim in Cleveland murder-suicide
CLEVELAND (WJW) — 'Shock, I'm in shock, I still can't believe it,' said Russell Digney as he tries to understand his friend's murder.
Cleveland Police received a call around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday reporting a man shot lying in the street on Munn Road at Doris Road in the city's West Park neighborhood.
As first reported by the FOX 8 I-Team, officers found the 68-year-old victim already deceased, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. According to police, officers found the suspect's vehicle nearby.
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He was also deceased with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
'Unfortunately, I saw my friend lying in the street and a cover over him, so I realized that he's gone and we just worked together yesterday down at the arena,' said Digney with tears welling in his eyes.
The victim, whose name is being withheld pending the notification of family members, was retired but worked with Digney as an usher at Rocket Arena during Cavaliers games.
As he said, they had just worked the Cavs-Pacers playoff game on Tuesday.
'It's just surreal,' he said. 'It's tough.'
A reason for the shooting has not been released by investigators yet, but friends and neighbors say the victim lived in fear of the suspect, who lived next door.
'He'd been in different jails and police stations,' said Digney. 'And unfortunately, it came to what he feared all along, living next door to him.'
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Friends said he frequently made the victim uncomfortable while he was doing yard work and he was outside cutting his lawn when he was shot.
'He didn't like him cutting his grass, so he drove by, shot him and killed him,' added another good friend, Vic Evin. 'He's had a history of mental problems, and judges keep letting these people out.'
The suspect's name is also being withheld by authorities at this time
The fatal shooting remains under investigation, while loved ones mourn their friend.
'Just a generous heart, a kind heart. He loved everybody, and I'm just grieving for him, and I'll always miss him,' Evin said.
They say a priest from nearby Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church came over and said a prayer for the victim, who was a devout Christian and looking forward to an upcoming hiking trip in Spain.
'Just a generous heart, he loved everybody, and I'm just grieving for him and I'll always miss him,' said Evin, becoming choked up. 'But I know he's with the Lord, so that's the only comfort I can take from it, cause I loved him.'
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