ODNR identifies victim

By Ed Runyan

runyan@vindy.com

WEST FARMINGTON

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife has identified the man killed Tuesday afternoon in the state-owned Grand River Wildlife Area as Nikolas J. Neric, 26, of Brooklyn, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb.

Jamey Graham, a spokeswoman for the ODNR in Akron, said a hunter apparently shot Neric about 2:30 p.m. in the part of the wildlife near the intersection of state Route 88 and Hoffman-Norton Road in Farmington Township.

It is believed the type of firearm used was a muzzle loader because Tuesday was the last day of a four-day muzzle-loader deer-hunting season, Graham said.

“There was an accident in the woods today. Somebody got shot,” the 911 caller for the incident said as his 911 call began. The man appeared to be somewhat familiar with the area, describing the roads nearby to help pinpoint the location.

The caller said he was the brother of the man who fired the shot and said the victim was not wearing any type of orange clothing and didn’t have any type of weapon.

Graham said anyone hunting Tuesday in the wildlife area would be required to wear a blaze-orange vest.

Someone hiking in that area would not be required to wear orange, but it would be rare for someone to hike at a time like that.

It would be unlikely that someone would not know that hunting was going on around them because the area is well-known as a hunting area; hunters are all over, and the sound of gunshots can be heard throughout, Graham said.

The caller gave the dispatcher the license- plate number of a gray pickup truck parked on a well road near the accident location. He said he suspected the truck belonged to the shooting victim.

As to whether the shooter is facing any criminal charges, Graham said, “It’s impossible to say at this point.”

The Ohio State Highway Patrol assisted with the investigation by conducting interviews.