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Downs Bait and Guns Shop Owner alerts police of a customer’s suspicious behavior
James Howard, 25 of Canfield, is charged with three felonies while trying to purchase ammunition illegally at a Logan Walmart after he assaulted an Ohio University staff member, police said.
OU officers in Athens charged Howard with burglary, illegal possession of a weapon, and tampering with records Monday. He is in Southeast Ohio Regional Jail on a $100,000 bond.
Hocking County Sheriff Lanny E. North said Thursday it’s possible Howard’s intent was to return to the university and commit a mass shooting of some type.
According to a news release issued by the OU police department, Howard forced his way into a staff member’s office, shoved and attempted to hit him for reasons unknown Monday morning.
Howard fled the scene and shortly after the incident, the news release said, he told a friend he was going to buy a gun.
When Howard went to Downs Bait and Guns, 30586 Lake Logan Road, Logan, reports said shop owner John Downs was alarmed by Howard’s behavior.
“The gun-shop owner [John Downs] recognized Howard displaying suspicious of behavior – things he said – and declined to sell to him. So, Howard left in anger,” North said.
North said Downs told him Howard returned to the shop a few hours later, causing him to close the shop down and deny Howard access.
Downs then called Hocking County Police Department to report Howard’s behavior and potential risk to the community.
Meanwhile, OU police asked surrounding law-enforcement agencies to assist in finding Howard.
Hocking County police officers found Howard, and a new, .22-caliber rifle in his possession at the Logan Walmart trying to purchase ammunition, North said.
North said it was good to see the gun-shop owner paying close attention to customers who sought out firearms.
“It seemed pretty commendable the gun-shop owner recognized something wrong and notified law enforcement,” North said.
Andrew Powers, OU police chief, agreed and said not only was it great communication from the gun shop owner, but also among law enforcement.
Howard’s burglary charge involves his purported trespassing into the staff member’s office and assaulting him. Howard previously was admitted involuntarily to a mental-health facility, which disqualifies him from having a weapon. To obtain the firearm, he had to have been “untruthful about the state of his mental health,” Powers said.