A man from Ohio made his first appearance in court on Tuesday after police said he shot dead his ex-girlfriend during a Friday morning at a Bob Evans restaurant.
Officers responded within minutes of the shooting at 9:30 a.m. at the eatery in Canton, Ohio, but James Nelson, 54, had already fled through the back exit, police said. Rebecca Jean Rogers, 38, was taken to Mercy Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Canton police chief Jack Angelo said Nelson was a former boyfriend of the victim, and that there had been a history of domestic violence in the past. ‘
“Domestic violence is a dangerous thing and you have to take people seriously because domestic incidents too often lead to such tragedies and it is not something anyone wants to see,” Angelo said.
The dozen other people in the restaurant at the time of the shooting were not injured.
“The customers took cover under tables,” Angelo said.
Nelson was arrested by police Friday night. According to the NBC subsidiary WKYC, he pleaded not guilty during Tuesday’s appearance. He is being arrested on a serious charge of murder instead of a $ 2 million bond, Sheriff’s Office Sgt. James Stevic told NBC News. It is unclear whether Nelson has a lawyer.
According to the news station, his next trial is scheduled for Thursday.
Bob Evans did not return a request for comment.
According to a sign on the door, WKYC reported that the restaurant will be closed until Thursday. According to the news station, Rogers’ friends and family released balloons in her memory on Friday.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visit www.thehotline.org or send an SMS to LOVEIS to 22522.
