WEST JEFFERSON — A man has been charged with four counts of murder stemming from the deadly shooting of four people, including a Springfield woman, in West Jefferson last month.
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The charges were filed Monday against John Steckel, 35, who is facing just the four preliminary charges, our partners at WBNS-TV in Columbus reported. Additional charges against Steckel are expected to be filed in a future grand jury hearing, West Jefferson Police Chief Chris Floyd said in a media release, posted to Facebook.
West Jefferson police were called May 24 on first reports of a person lying outside an apartment on Jackson Street. During the investigation, four people, one outside and three inside were found shot to death.
Steckel was in custody in the Franklin County Jail Monday, according to the station.
The victims were identified as:
- Jamie Danielle Lavender, 30, of Springfield
- Leon Billy Daniels, 38, of London
- Andrew Thomas Swindall, 45, of West Jefferson
- Shawon A. Wright, 45, of London
Police have said robbery may be a motive in the killings, according to WBNS-TV. Previously, investigators said they believed the shooting was a targeted incident, based on the location of the apartment.
“Something brought somebody to a dead-end street,” West Jefferson Police Chief Chris Floyd told WBNS-TV Monday.
Additional details were not released.