STOW, Ohio — The two people who died following a shooting that happened at a Taco Bell drive-thru in Stow on Wednesday evening have now been identified as 25-year-old Megan Keleman of Stow and 53-year-old Jason Williams of Cuyahoga Falls.
Officials tell 3News the incident is currently being investigated as a murder-suicide. It happened at around 7:20 p.m. at the restaurant in the 900 block of Graham Road near the border with Cuyahoga Falls.
Stow police say they responded to a call from a Taco Bell employee at the request of a woman in the drive-thru line who reported the car behind her had just struck her car.
Witnesses told detectives that a man began blowing his horn at the woman when she pulled in front of him to get in the drive-thru line.
Moments later, Stow police received several 911 calls reporting a shooting at Taco Bell. Witnesses told police that a man in the drive-thru line approached the woman in her car and shot her before turning the gun on himself.
On Sunday at 7 p.m. on the front lawn of the Stow City Hall, a vigil took place in Megan Keleman's honor. For those who missed it, you can watch the live stream below:
Stow police said in a press conference on Thursday that they have no information to indicate that the two individuals knew each other and called the incident a "true tragedy."
The full press conference can be watched below:
The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office provided the following details regarding the deaths in this case:
Megan Keleman
- Cause of death: Gunshot wounds to the neck
- Manner of death: Homicide
Jason Williams of Cuyahoga Falls
- Cause of death: Gunshot wound to head
- Manner of death: Suicide
The Keleman family released the following statement regarding the incident:
"In light of the recent events, our family is enduring an immensely painful loss of Megan Elizabeth Keleman. We kindly ask for the media and the public’s understanding for our privacy during this difficult time. We appreciate the community’s support and hope that our request for privacy will be honored so we can continue to focus on supporting each other through this difficult period."
The Cleveland State University President, Dr. Laura Bloomberg, released the following statement on Saturday, saying in part:
"We send our deepest sympathies to Megan’s family, friends and loved ones. We have lost a caring, engaged and optimistic member of the CSU community. As a talented writer, Megan herself once provided advice on handling such tragic situations, and I suggest we all consider her words. 'Happiness is forceful,' she wrote in a 2020 article for The Cauldron. 'Surrounding yourself with positive people is a great way to help you in challenging times because their happiness is contagious.' Be kind to yourself and each other in the days ahead."
Cuyahoga Falls police and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation also responded to assist Stow police at the scene.
Additionally, Taco Bell released the following statement to 3News on Thursday:
"We are shocked to hear that this happened. The franchise owner and operator of this location has informed us that they are working with the local authorities in their investigation of this customer incident and that they will be offering support to all team members present."
Taco Bell's site shows the restaurant will remain closed on Friday and Saturday.
Anybody with information in connection with the shooting is asked to call the Stow Detective Bureau at 330-689-5770.