LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ohio — In a tragic incident today, a dispute between neighbors escalated into violence, resulting in the death of one man. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at approximately 4:50 PM regarding a shooting at 340 TR 76 in Willow Wood, Ohio.
According to Sheriff Jeff Lawless, 61-year-old Donald Russell reported the incident. Upon returning home from work, Russell heard loud banging noises emanating from his hunting cabin, situated several hundred yards away from his residence. Investigating the disturbance, he encountered his neighbor, 73-year-old Curtis L. Craig, who was attempting to dismantle the cabin’s underpinning.
Craig, armed with a small-caliber rifle, confronted Russell, leading to a heated argument. As tensions escalated, Craig , authorities said, threatened Russell with the firearm. Russell attempted to retreat, but Craig reportedly persisted in advancing. A physical altercation ensued, during which Craig allegedly struck Russell in the face. The two men, reports say, grappled, and Russell managed to take the rifle away from Craig.
However, the confrontation took a deadly turn when Craig allegedly retrieved a knife and attempted to stab Russell. Russell, authorities said, fired the rifle, striking Craig multiple times in the upper torso. The severity of the injuries proved fatal.
Russell informed authorities that Craig had been causing disturbances on their property over the past few weeks. The Lawrence County Coroner’s Office arrived at the scene and pronounced Craig dead. His body will be transported to Montgomery County for an autopsy.
The investigation into this incident remains ongoing. Authorities are examining the circumstances that led to the violent encounter between the neighbors.
This story will be updated as more details emerge.
Note: This news report is based on information provided by the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Jeff Lawless.