Officer's Life Taken By Brother During A Domestic Argument
Two Richland County families and countless friends will spend the remainder of this holiday season and beyond trying to make sense of a tragic Christmas night.
They will recall the remarkable lives of Brian Evans and Robert Houseman, both of whom were shot to death in the early morning hours of Dec. 26, as most us slept away the happy fatigue generated by a joyous holiday.
They will wonder what led to the fatal events outside the Weller Township residence of killing suspect Larry Evans, which also included the non-fatal shootings of Trina Evans and Kimberly Evans, the sister-in-law and sister of the man now charged in the case.
In their minds, they will replay the last few days leading up to Christmas, trying to recall something, anything, that could have offered some clue that something was going seriously wrong.
And they will wonder if there is something, anything that they could have done to stop this tragedy before it happened.
We hope the knowledge that the prayers of a community are with them will make their efforts less painful.
Based upon what we had learned by Thursday, we know that Brian Evans, a decorated Mansfield police officer with almost 15 years of service to his community, was killed while trying to assist his troubled brother.
We know that the two women who were wounded went to the Robinson Road duplex in Weller Township out of their concern for Larry Evans. They were fortunate to escape with their lives.
And we know that "Bobby" Houseman, a devoted father to his children who gave countless hours as a school volunteer in Crestview Local Schools, was just in the wrong place at the wrong time when he arrived home after spending Christmas with his parents.
Two lives tragically ended. Two families forever changed. One man whose own life may end behind bars if he is convicted of these crimes.
And few answers to any of the questions for those left behind to ponder them. We will likely never fully understand what went so horribly wrong that night.
But perhaps the words of Alfred de Vigny, a 19th century French poet, playwright and author, will help to ease the pain of unanswered questions.
He said, "The acts of the human race on the world's stage have doubtless a coherent unity, but the meaning of the vast tragedy enacted will be visible only to the eye of God, until the end, which will reveal it perhaps to the last man."
Larry Evans, 39, is charged with killing his police-officer brother and a neighbor. His bond was set at $1 million.
Nearby resident : 'I could see the fire coming out of the gun'
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EPWORTH, OHIO -- Bill Bradley can't believe more people didn't die in Wednesday's early-morning shooting on Robinson Road. Bradley saw Trina and Kimberly Evans pull into the driveway of Larry Evans' residence at 3085 Robinson Road in Weller Township. Seconds later, Larry Evans reportedly opened fire on them. The time was 1:20 a.m. "I see a car. They pull in the driveway," Bradley said. "I see him (Larry Evans) run out of the garage."I could see the fire coming out of the gun. It was bam, bam, bam, bam. There must have been 15 shots." Trina and Kimberly Evans escaped with non life-threatening bullet wounds. "I thought, 'How did they make it?' " Bradley said. Brian Evans, 37, Larry's brother, and Robert Houseman, 44, 3083 Robinson Road, died in the shooting. Authorities, who are piecing together the details, don't know the order of the shootings or a motive. Bradley and his wife, Michelle, live next door to the duplex where the shootings occurred. They rented to Houseman and Larry Evans. "It was about 1 (a.m.). It woke me up," Michelle said of the gunshots. "We really didn't know what the heck was going on." Michelle looked out to see Larry Evans' wife, nicknamed Dumpy, heading toward their house. "He was shooting. I don't know if he was shooting at her," Michelle said. "She (Dumpy) was scared to death. I don't think she knew what was going on." Michelle called 9-1-1 and the family headed for the basement. "We just waited until we heard from the cops," Bill said. Bill said Houseman moved in at the end of August. "I've known him for a long time," Bill said. "He was a regular guy. He was just Bob." Bill said Houseman was disabled because of a back injury and described him as devoted to his two daughters. "He did everything with them," Bill said. "I just feel for the girls. Who do they have now?" Bill said he didn't know Evans, who had rented from him for nearly three years, as well. "He would always take his daughter hunting," Bill said. "She got an eight-point buck this year. The little bit that I knew, I never saw him mad or fly off the handle." As Michelle talked to a reporter, a Cleveland television station was playing her 9-1-1 call. |
Windows were visibly broken out of the house .
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Mansfield Police Department officer Brian Evans
Larry Evans
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MANSFIELD(OH)NEWS-JOURNAL
Authorities investigate the shooting deaths of two local residents today in northern Richland County.
Photo; Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon talks to the media during a press conference today.
Photo: Mansfield Police Chief Phil Messer listens to a question during a press conference today.
Great Officer with a sence of humor, his love for his wife, and the deep bond they shared with their daughter," the police department said in a statement.
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