Joe Kaluza, KFC manager paralyzed in robbery, dead at 49

YOUNGSTOWN

Joe Kaluza, who was shot and paralyzed in 2008 while delivering a bank deposit after his shift as a manager at a KFC on South Avenue, died Thursday, a family member confirmed.

Kaluza died around 4:30 p.m. at an area hospital after an ambulance picked him up in the morning because he was not feeling well, the relative reported.

Kaluza, who was paralyzed from the neck down, had been in and out of hospitals over the years because of illnesses.

The shooting that paralyzed him happened March 24, 2008, when he was driving on South Avenue to make the deposit. A car cut him off and caused an accident.

Kaluza lent his cell phone to the woman driving the car, but a man with her shot him in the head and neck. The man pushed his car a short distance into a driveway and stole $300. The accident, police believe, had been staged.

Taran Helms, 23 at the time of the shooting, and his girlfriend, Hattie Gilbert, 20, both of Youngstown, were each sentenced to 50 years in prison.