Authorities say a 42-year-old man killed two children and an adult before taking his own life.
TIFFIN, Ohio — Four people, including two children, were killed in a murder-suicide Wednesday evening on the 100 block of Huss Street, police said. Officers were called just after 6:24 p.m. Nov. 19 and found three gunshot victims and the suspected gunman, who died at the scene, with a fourth victim later pronounced at a hospital.
Police identified the suspected shooter as Ryan Eagon, 42. Investigators said the violence unfolded as a woman returned to retrieve belongings amid domestic problems at the home. Her 7-month-old son and her 7-year-old son were present, along with the older boy’s father, Dustin Willey, 29, who came to help. Authorities said the woman was physically uninjured but was “visibly traumatized.” The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation joined Tiffin police in processing the scene, and the Seneca County Coroner’s Office is handling autopsies. The case has shaken this small city about 55 miles southeast of Toledo.
According to police, the woman and Willey were inside the residence when the children were outside near the driveway. Eagon, believed to be out of town for work, appeared unexpectedly, chased Willey and fired several times, investigators said. He then shot the children before turning the gun on himself. Officers arrived minutes after the woman’s 911 call, secured the residence and provided aid. The infant and Eagon were pronounced dead at the scene; the 7-year-old and Willey were taken to Mercy Health – Tiffin Hospital, where both died. “This is a devastating event for our community,” Police Chief David Pauly said, adding that officers and dispatchers were receiving support services after the response.
Authorities identified the adult victim as Dustin James Willey, 29, of Fremont, a father remembered by friends as devoted to his son. The children were the woman’s 7-month-old infant, named August, and her 7-year-old, Wrenn Roosevelt Willey. Investigators said the mother, who made the emergency call, witnessed the aftermath and stayed on scene. Detectives collected shell casings and interviewed neighbors along Huss Street, a residential area on the city’s northeast side. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted ballistics and forensic work. Autopsy results and the official cause and manner of each death are pending. Police said they have not released the model of the firearm and did not report any additional injuries.
Records and prior contacts are part of the review. Police said the woman was moving out following domestic issues at the address, a detail now central to the timeline investigators are building from 911 logs, patrol reports and body-camera footage. Neighbors told officers they heard multiple shots in quick succession and shouting just before sirens approached. Detectives are examining whether Eagon’s work travel contributed to the timing, how he gained access to the property and whether any protective orders or prior calls for service existed before Nov. 19. Officials emphasized that, beyond the information released, several pieces of the sequence remain unknown until interviews and lab work are complete.
Funeral homes confirmed arrangements for Willey and for Wrenn, 7, as community leaders coordinated support for the surviving family. On Sunday night, hundreds gathered at the Tiffin Amphitheater for a vigil honoring Dustin, Wrenn and August. “He loved Wrenn. He was a good father,” said Kelly Gallagher, Willey’s former boss, who described him as a steady presence and quick to help. “We’re all just trying to process it,” she said. Tiffin resident Donavon Stith said the turnout showed “how loving all of us can be” in the days after the shooting. In storefronts near downtown, hand-lettered signs and candles appeared as residents offered condolences.
Investigators said the case remains open. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation will forward findings to Tiffin police and the Seneca County Prosecutor’s Office. The coroner will release autopsy results when complete. Police said additional updates would follow after evidence testing is returned and interviews are finalized. No further suspects are sought. Officials said any public briefing schedule would be announced after the Thanksgiving holiday. A written report summarizing the sequence of events and evidence collected is expected in the coming weeks, with the department planning a fuller timeline once lab analyses are finished.
By Monday, patrols in the Huss Street area had resumed normal operations, and crime scene tape was removed from the driveway where detectives worked last week. A small pile of stuffed animals and flowers sat near the curb. “The loss of two children and a young father is immeasurable,” Chief Pauly said. “Our thoughts are with their families and everyone affected.” Counselors remain available for first responders. Neighbors said they hope quiet returns, but the address is likely to draw visitors for some time as mourners stop to leave messages.
As of Friday, police say the investigation is active, with autopsy reports pending and no public briefing scheduled. The next update is expected after laboratory results are processed in the days ahead.
Author note: Last updated November 28, 2025.