A tragic incident unfolded at a Taco Bell drive-thru in Stow, Ohio, on Wednesday night when a woman was fatally shot by a man who subsequently took his own life. The victim, 25-year-old Megan Keleman, was ordering food from her car with her dog when 53-year-old Jason Williams crashed into the rear of her vehicle.
Keleman, a recent graduate from Cleveland State University, alerted a Taco Bell employee to the situation and requested they call 911. Williams, after exiting his vehicle, shot Keleman before turning the gun on himself, according to Stow Police Chief Jeffrey Film. Witnesses reported that Williams had been honking at Keleman after she pulled into the drive-thru line ahead of him.
Both Keleman and Williams were pronounced dead at the scene. The Summit County Medical Examiner confirmed Keleman’s death as a homicide, resulting from gunshot wounds to the neck, while Williams’ death was ruled a suicide from a gunshot to the head.
According to Chief Film, there is no evidence to suggest that Keleman and Williams knew each other. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and authorities have stated they may never understand why it occurred.
During the investigation, police discovered that Keleman had called her father after her car was hit. Bodycam footage revealed her father assuring her that he was on his way to the scene.
Keleman’s family expressed their immense grief over the loss of their daughter and requested privacy during this difficult time. They also expressed gratitude for the community’s support.
Williams had a previous arrest record, including a charge for operating a vehicle under the influence and a weapons charge. He was indicted in April for improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle and was released on a $5,000 bond in May, under the condition of not possessing any firearms.
Keleman, who earned her Masters degree in Business Administration from CSU in May, was an active leader on campus. She led campus tours, organized student orientations, and served as the editor-in-chief of the university’s student newspaper, “The Cauldron.” CSU President Dr. Laura Bloomberg expressed deep condolences to Keleman’s family, friends, and loved ones, describing the loss of a caring, engaged, and optimistic member of the CSU community.