Vigil to be held for Tiffin victims in murder-suicide

Editor’s Note: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline by texting START to the number 88788 or calling 1-800-799-SAFE. Additionally, If you know anyone who may be living with suicidal thoughts or behaviors, call the Ohio suicide and crisis hotline at 988.

TIFFIN, Ohio — The Tiffin community is planning to gather Sunday for the victims of a murder-suicide that occurred Wednesday night, which police said was caused by “domestic issues.”

According to the Seneca County, Ohio, scanner page on Facebook, a vigil is set for 6 p.m. at the Frost-Kalnow Amphitheater on the East Green to honor the lives lost and a woman who lost her children. 

Organizers in the page said they have about 200 tea lights that will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. 

The Tiffin Police Department said officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Huss Street around 6:24 p.m. Wednesday after reports of gunshots and sounds of screaming. 

When police arrived, officers entered the home and found four people inside. An adult man and two boys were suffering from gunshot wounds, and an adult woman was in the home physically uninjured, police said. She seemed to be in a state of shock and “visibly traumatized.” Additionally, another man was found dead outside the home.

Police said the investigation revealed that the woman, identified as the mother of the two boys, was trying to remove belongings from the home when the incident occurred. Police said the mother was trying to leave following “ongoing domestic issues” in the home. 

The mother was getting help from Dustin Willey, 29, who was the father of her oldest child. Her husband, Ryan Eagon, 42, was at work while the mother and Willey attempted to get belongings out of the home. 

It was believed Eagon was working out of town, police said. 

Evidence shows while the mother and Willey were inside the home, the children — 7-year-old and 7-month-old sons — were outside near the car. Police said the 7-year-old son then cried out, prompting the mother and Willey to go check on him.

When they went outside, Eagon was in the driveway, police said. 

According to witness statements, Eagon then started chasing Willey, pushing past the mother and firing multiple shots. Police said Eagon then turned the gun on his family, shot the children, then shot at Willey. 

Eagon then shot himself with a single shot, police said. He was declared dead at the scene. 

The mother said she carried her injured children into the home before officers arrived. When they did, they acted quickly to help the children. One was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other died from his injuries at the hospital, police said.

“The mother of the children was present during the incident and was the individual who reported the emergency. In accordance with Marsy’s Law and its protections for crime victims, the Tiffin Police Department will not be releasing her name or any additional identifying information,” the Tiffin Police Department wrote in a statement. “We ask all media outlets and members of the public to respect her privacy during this unthinkably difficult time.”

The incident remains under investigation by the Tiffin Police Department with assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Seneca County Coroner’s Office. 

“The Tiffin Police Department recognizes the profound emotional impact this tragedy has had on the families involved, first responders, medical staff, schools, and the broader community. Resources for grief support and counseling are being coordinated for anyone affected,” the Tiffin Police Department wrote in a statement.