Coalition Against Gun Violence

American Gun Tragedies

• Copley Township, OH (8-07-11)

  Seven people, including an 11-year-old, were slain before police spotted the suspect who engaged the officers in gun fire and was killed. Police said a family argument that led to the shooting rampage had been sparked by out-of-town guests who were there for a family reunion. The gunman was identified as Michael Hance, age 51. The following chain of events was released by police: 1) Gunman shoots girlfriend, Rebecca Dieter, who, although shot multiple times, was the sole survivor; 2) Gunman runs to adjacent house, and shoots the girlfriend’s brother and four bystanders at the home; 3) Gunman chases two more bystanders through some backyards, shooting one of them outside a house; 4) Gunman enters another home and shoots one person and leaves; 5) The final victim was an 11-year-old boy hiding in a basement; and 6) Gunman shoots at police officer and another citizen, and is shot and killed by the officer. In all, police said there were four different crime scenes as a result of the shootings.