Ohio: Man killed trying to rob home, police say

Franklinton, Ohio

From the Columbus Dispatch of July 21, 2008

Man killed trying to rob home, police say

An 18-year-old man armed with a BB gun was fatally shot while trying to rob the residents of a Franklinton home yesterday afternoon, police said.

Police arrested his two alleged accomplices, one of whom was his brother, and charged them with murder for taking part in a crime that resulted in his death.

The resident who fired the fatal shot was released after questioning by police. A Franklin County grand jury will decide whether he acted in self-defense or should be indicted for a crime, police said.

Terrance W. Jackson, described by police as a college student from out of state, died at Mount Carmel West hospital at 1:51 p.m., about an hour and 40 minutes after the shooting at 641 W. Chapel St.

Police said Jackson was accompanied by his brother Cashius D. Jackson and Cashius' girlfriend, Lucretia D. Fudge, when he attempted to rob Joshua A. LeMaster's home at 12:10 p.m. LeMaster was one of four residents in the home at the time.

LeMaster shot Jackson in the chest and arm. Jackson ran across the street and collapsed on the sidewalk, where he was unresponsive when found by police, Sgt. Joan Schlabach said.

"He's protecting his family. He's protecting my home," said LeMaster's roommate, who was asleep upstairs when the shots were fired. "It's (expletive) when you can't leave your front door open."

Several neighbors said they heard three to five shots and saw two people run toward the Inn Towne Motel, four blocks north at 595 W. Broad St.

Terrance Jackson and three other people were staying in one of two rooms rented under the name Cassius R. Jackson, a manager at the motel confirmed.

Cashius Jackson, 26, faces one count of murder, and Fudge, 17, faces a delinquency count of murder. Police listed Cashius Jackson's address as 1750 Bryden Rd. and Fudge's as 1360 Phale D. Hale Dr.

LeMaster's roommate, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation, said the intruders didn't know any of the residents, and there was nothing of value in their home. Police said they did not know why the home was targeted.

LeMaster's girlfriend told police that Terrance Jackson held a gun, later identified as a BB gun, to her head. LeMaster pulled out a real gun and shot him in the living room.

An Ohio law taking effect in September will establish a presumption that people who shoot someone invading their home are acting in self-defense.

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