Crime
Update on Darke County fatal shooting and crash incident, victim and suspect identified
Greenville, OH – March 2025 – Following further investigation and information released by Darke County Coroner Dr. Susan Brown, Sheriff Mark Whittaker has provided an updated account of the violent events that unfolded on Thursday, resulting in a double homicide and a high-speed chase ending in a fatal crash.
Authorities now confirm that Josiah “Joe” Maloon, 57, of 2535 State Route 571, Greenville, OH, brutally beat and fatally shot his wife, Juanita Maloon, 53, at their residence.
The Darke County Coroner’s Office has ruled Juanita Maloon’s cause of death as a homicide due to a gunshot wound to the head.
At approximately 2:15 p.m., Randy Ward II, 47, of Ansonia, OH, arrived at the Maloon residence at the request of Joe Maloon for a transaction.
Upon arrival, Ward followed Maloon’s instructions to retrieve cash from his vehicle.
It was at this moment that Joe Maloon emerged from his home and opened fire, discharging multiple rounds at Ward.
Ward attempted to escape by running to his vehicle, but was struck by gunfire multiple times. Despite his injuries, he managed to flee in his Dodge Challenger.
Joe Maloon pursued him in a Nissan Pathfinder SUV, continuing to fire shots while also ramming Ward’s vehicle in an attempt to force him off the road.
The high-speed pursuit ended when both vehicles crashed into opposite fields.
Maloon’s SUV overturned multiple times, ejecting him from the vehicle.
He was found unconscious and unresponsive at the scene and was later declared deceased due to injuries sustained in the crash.
Meanwhile, Ward, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, was treated at the scene and airlifted to Miami Valley Hospital via CareFlight.
His current condition remains unknown.
Investigators recovered a handgun near Maloon at the crash scene, which is believed to be the weapon used in both the murder of Juanita Maloon and the attempted murder of Randy Ward.
Further forensic analysis will be conducted to confirm this finding.
Additionally, spent shell casings and a white powdery substance in packaging were discovered in the driveway of 2535 State Route 571, where the initial shooting occurred.
These items will be forensically examined to determine their nature and relevance to the case.
The Darke County Sheriff’s Office and multiple other law enforcement agencies responded to two separate but connected crime scenes:
9600 block of Coletown-Lightsville Road – Location of the vehicle pursuit and crash where Maloon was ejected and found deceased.
2500 block of State Route 571 – Maloon residence, where deputies discovered the body of Juanita Maloon.
A heavy police presence was reported at both locations, with at least a dozen police cruisers and emergency personnel on scene.
The initial 911 call was made around 2:30 p.m. by Randy Ward, who reported being chased and shot multiple times.
He informed dispatchers that his friend had opened fire on him at the residence and was actively pursuing him while continuing to shoot and ram his vehicle.
Sheriff Mark Whittaker stated that, based on the evidence and ongoing investigation, Joe Maloon was the primary threat and no additional suspects are being sought.
Authorities have assured the public that there is no further danger to the community.
The case remains under active investigation, and further details will be released as they become available.
BEND, Ore. — Rhoam Summer, 5, has been identified as the first reported victim of the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, where preliminary reports indicate that four victims, including three children and one adult, were killed. The 16-year-old suspect also died, bringing the reported death toll to five.
The shooting prompted a major law enforcement and emergency response Thursday afternoon, October 15, 2026, after Bend police issued an active-shooter alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Authorities described a large police presence at the school and urged the public to avoid the area.
Information provided in preliminary reports indicated that the children killed were ages 5, 8 and 11. One teacher was also reported dead. Rhoam Summer, 5, was identified as the first victim publicly named in connection with the tragedy.
Authorities had not yet released the names of the other reported victims in the information available for this report.
According to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement, four victims died as a result of the shooting: three children and one adult. The suspected shooter, a 16-year-old Bend resident, was also reported dead.
This brings the reported total to five deaths, including the suspect.
Reports indicated that two additional people were transported for medical treatment in critical condition. They were described as a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher.
The reported casualties have not all been independently confirmed through a complete official victim list. Further information from law enforcement and medical authorities is needed to establish the final number of injured people and the conditions of those receiving treatment.
Preliminary reports identified the suspected shooter as a 16-year-old resident of Bend. The teenager was reportedly armed with a shotgun.
Scanner traffic and early reports indicated that a bystander, described as a Good Samaritan and possibly the father of a student, shot and killed the suspect. Reports also described the bystander as someone legally carrying a concealed firearm.
However, the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death, including the identity and role of the bystander, require confirmation from law enforcement. These details should not be considered established facts until officials release an authoritative account.
Authorities had reported that the suspect was deceased, but further verified information about the sequence of events was not available in the preliminary reports summarized here.
Bend police issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday reporting an active shooter at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend.
The initial alert provided limited information but warned residents of a large police presence and urged them to stay away from the area. Police, fire crews and emergency medical personnel responded to the school.
The incident triggered urgent safety measures as authorities worked to secure the campus, assess casualties and coordinate the emergency response.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced that a reunification site had been established at Journey Church, located at 61303 S Highway 97, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Families of students were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with their children.
Parents also received alerts indicating that nearby schools, including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary, had been placed under lockdown as a precaution while law enforcement responded to the shooting.
The shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School has left families and the Bend community facing a devastating loss. The reported deaths of three children and one adult, along with the death of the teenage suspect, have made the incident one of the most serious school emergencies reported in the area.
Investigators are expected to establish the sequence of events, confirm the identities of the victims, determine how the shooting unfolded and clarify the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death.