2 shot dead, 2 wounded

One of the victims was a
14-year veteran of the Mansfield police.

EPWORTH, Ohio (AP) — An off-duty Mansfield city police officer was one of two dead and his older brother was in custody following a shooting early Wednesday in central Ohio’s rural Richland County, authorities said.

Brian Evans, 37, a 14-year veteran of the Mansfield police force, was found dead after 1 a.m. by officers responding to a call of a disturbance and shots fired at a home in Weller Township, northeast of Mansfield, according to a joint statement from the police department and the county sheriff’s office.

Next-door neighbor Robert Houseman, 44, was also killed, Richland County Sheriff Steve Sheldon said at a news conference.

Larry Evans, 39, the brother of Brian Evans, was being held as a suspect at the sheriff’s office. It was unclear whether he had an attorney.

Trina Evans, 37, Brian’s wife, and Kimberly Evans, 42, Brian’s sister, also were shot, but survived. Trina Evans was treated at MedCentral/Mansfield Hospital and released, Sheldon said. Kimberly Evans remained at the hospital, which would not provide her condition.

Deputies who responded to a call at 1:11 a.m. were fired on multiple times outside Larry Evans’ house. He surrendered peacefully around 4:40 a.m.

Brian Evans had received many awards for police work. He is survived by his wife and a 10-year-old daughter, Tess.

“He was most known for his humor, his love for his wife, and the deep bond they shared with their daughter,” the police department said in a statement.