West Jefferson Police have released the names of four people who were killed at a small apartment complex on Monday.
West Jefferson Police responded to the scene at 5:30 p.m., where they found victims lying dead inside and outside of a small apartment complex. All of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and police said they died of apparent gunshot wounds.
The victims are Andrew Swindall, 45, West Jefferson, Shawn Wright, 45, of London, Leon Daniels, 38, of London and Jamie Lavender, 30, of Springfield. Swindall lived in the apartment.
Several neighbors said this kind of thing doesn鈥檛 happen in West Jefferson usually. Holly Hunter lives a street over from the scene of the potential homicide.
鈥淚 lived in this town my whole life and in this neighborhood for a few years now,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淓veryone minds their own business, and that鈥檚 the best part about living in a small town. It鈥檚 always quiet. Everyone knows everybody.鈥�
She wasn鈥檛 home when the shooting happened, but stayed up until 2 a.m. thinking about it after returning from work.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really unfortunate what happened. I didn鈥檛 know the people, but it鈥檚 still sad,鈥� Hunter said. 鈥淚 definitely had a restless night. I think everybody鈥檚 really shook up, heartbroken and doesn鈥檛 know how to feel about the situation.鈥�
Last Homicide Investigation Was Almost 10 Years Ago
People who say this sort of thing doesn鈥檛 happen around West Jefferson have a point. According to the police department, the last homicide investigation in the town of less than 2,000 people was in 2012.
Samantha Kinzel lives a couple of doors down from the apartment where the killings occurred. She said the incident doesn鈥檛 change her perspective on West Jefferson.
鈥淚 still feel safe. I feel fine. I鈥檝e not had any issues in the year I鈥檝e been here. I see the cops every day driving by,鈥� Kinzel said. 鈥淪o I still feel good.鈥�
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Madison County Sheriff鈥檚 Office are assisting the West Jefferson Police in investigating.
So far, the West Jefferson Police Dqepartment does not have information on potential suspects. They鈥檙e asking people in the community to call the Detective Bureau at 614-879-7672, or the department鈥檚 anonymous phone tip line at 614-379-5175.
