On March 8th, 2021 at 5:36 PM, Marion Police Officers responded to a home in the 250 block of Cummins Avenue to check the well-being of the male resident at that location. Officers were unable to summon a resident to the door, which resulted in the officers forcing entry into the home to verify the safety of those inside.
Once inside the home, officers encountered 78-year-old Ronald E. Gibson sitting at the dining room table facing away from them. Gibson proceeded to stab himself in the presence of the officers. Upon checking the rest of the home, Officers located 80-year-old Shirley Gibson (Ronald’s wife) deceased of an apparent gunshot wound. The family dog was also found deceased from a gunshot wound.
Ronald Gibson was transported to Marion General/OhioHealth and later flown by a medical helicopter to a Columbus area trauma center with what is believed to be non-life-threatening injuries. Gibson is under the guard of Marion Police at the medical facility and a warrant has been issued for his arrest on a charge of Aggravated Murder.
“Our officers routinely respond to welfare checks and this is a tragic reminder that no response is ever routine and the emotional impact on our officers, this family and the community as a whole is immeasurable”, said Marion Police Chief Jay McDonald. “Our investigators worked this scene late into the evening and they will continue to pursue leads and talk to witnesses to ensure that we collect all the necessary facts required in an investigation of this nature”.
This investigation is considered active and on-going. The Marion Police Department was assisted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and the Marion County Coroner’s Office in the course of this investigation.
Additional details will be released when available. Anyone who believes that they have information pertinent to this investigation is asked to contact the Marion Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 740-387-2222.