A domestic dispute in Tiffin, Ohio, escalated into one of the city's deadliest family tragedies in recent memory, after police say a man ambushed his wife, killed her two young children and another man assisting her, and then fatally shot himself. The shootings occurred Wednesday evening on Huss Street, a residential neighborhood along the Sandusky River, drawing emergency responders to a scene investigators described as devastating.
Authorities said the violence unfolded just after 6:24 p.m., when the mother called 911 reporting gunfire outside her home. She had been gathering belongings with the father of her older child, 29-year-old Dustin Willey, while her 7-year-old son and 7-month-old infant were near a vehicle in the driveway. Police believe her husband, 42-year-old Ryan Eagon, confronted the group as they attempted to move out following ongoing domestic issues.
Initial accounts from witnesses and investigators indicate that Eagon approached the driveway and targeted Willey first, firing repeatedly as Willey attempted to flee. The shots drew the attention of the 7-year-old, who was reportedly heard crying out moments before being struck. The infant was also shot during the attack. Police said no officers fired weapons and arriving units found multiple victims down in the driveway and yard.
The infant and Eagon were pronounced dead at the scene. The 7-year-old and Willey were transported to Tiffin Mercy Hospital by Tiffin Fire & Rescue, but both later died from their injuries. The mother was physically unharmed but described by authorities as "overwhelmed, clearly in shock, and visibly traumatised." Law enforcement officials said she witnessed parts of the shootings at close range.
The Tiffin Police Department said the episode occurred during a planned effort by the mother to remove belongings from the home while Eagon was believed to be working out of town. Investigators now say Eagon returned unexpectedly and launched the attack, turning it into what they are classifying as an apparent murder-suicide. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has joined local police in collecting evidence, mapping the scene and conducting interviews to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Residents on the street told officers they heard a series of rapid gunshots before seeing the mother run for help. Several neighbors attempted to assist before first responders arrived. The community has since expressed shock, with local organizations preparing support services for the surviving family. Tiffin officials said the loss of two children has deeply shaken the small city, which rarely sees major violent crime.
Authorities urged residents to take domestic-violence threats seriously and to alert law enforcement when behavior escalates. Police say the investigation remains active, with additional findings expected once forensic analysis and witness statements are completed.
