CLINTON, MO – A shocking incident has rocked the small town of Clinton, Missouri, with a 70-year-old grandfather, Thomas Ribby, allegedly admitting to the fatal shooting of his 16-year-old grandson, Royce Hayes Osburn. The incident, which took place in their family home, has left the community grappling with the harsh reality of domestic violence.
Ribby, according to police reports, claimed ignorance about the loaded state of the gun. However, this explanation did not sit well with the family, who questioned the rationale behind pointing a gun at a minor, regardless of its perceived state. The family admitted to past disagreements between Ribby and Osburn, but none of them ever imagined it would escalate to such a horrifying conclusion.
Legal documents indicate that Ribby had earlier allowed Osburn to play with the Glock. The teenager was seen “pretending to clear rooms with the firearm.” After being shot, Osburn managed to reach his mother, Melissa Ribby, and gasped out, “papa shot me.” Melissa Ribby recounted the painful experience of her son dying in her arms.
When the police arrived, Ribby locked himself in his apartment. Melissa Ribby expressed her fury and sorrow, disowning her father and wishing him eternal torment. She mourned the loss of her son, who had dreams of becoming a police officer.
Ribby is currently being held at the Henry County Detention Center, with a bail set at $100,000 cash-only. He has been charged with first-degree murder, child endangerment, and resisting arrest.