Police in Ohio have released shocking bodycam footage of an insane shotgun-wielding man who allegedly went on a rampage and murdered multiple family members.
On Wednesday, Lancaster police identified Kyle Varney, 26, as the gunman charged with two counts of murder and six counts of felonious assault, each with a gun specification. The felonious assault charges are second-degree felonies.
The shooting on Tuesday killed two men, believed to be Varney’s father and grandfather, critically injured a woman, and wounded Varney by a police officer, according to the Lancaster Gazette.
Chief Nicholas Snyder stated shortly before 5:30 p.m. On Tuesday, Lancaster police responded to a “behavioral health” call to 911 regarding an argument inside a home in the 1200 block of North Broad Street.
According to a 911 call recording, Varney’s grandmother reported that Varney was acting strangely and needed to be evaluated for mental health.
“My grandson, Kyle Varney, he’s getting out of hand,” she said in the 911 call.
The grandmother told the dispatcher that she did not believe his behavior was related to drugs or alcohol because it had been going on for a few years, but Varney refused to be evaluated for any mental health issues.
Body camera footage shows a Lancaster police officer responding to the scene and being immediately confronted by a woman running to his patrol car screaming for help, claiming that the gunman had shot her husband and his father inside the home, and that Varney was carrying a shotgun.
The officer then witnessed Varney shoot a woman on the scene, whom the woman who first met the officer outside identified as her adult daughter. The shotgun blast can be heard in the body cam footage.
The officer then fired three shots at Varney from behind the back of his cruiser, apparently hitting him at least once. Varney fled behind the house.
After calling for help, additional officers try to persuade the wounded woman to crawl toward them, but she is unable to do so due to her injuries. Varney reappears from the back of the house shortly after, and the officers order him to crawl towards them.
Varney can be seen reaching for his waistband at least twice as he crawls towards them, and officers warn him to keep his hands where they can see them or he will be shot.
Varney was arrested, and the woman he shot was taken to a hospital in Columbus in critical condition. Family members started a GoFundMe page to cover medical costs for the surviving female victim, Stacy, as well as funeral expenses for the deceased.
“We are reaching out to all of you to assist them in whatever needs they may have,” said the event’s organizer. “Stacy faces a long road to recovery! Your financial and spiritual support is greatly appreciated!!”
“Let us band together and show our support! “This tragic event serves as a reminder of the importance of banding together and supporting one another in times of need,” the fundraiser added.
