‘He taught me a lot about life;’ Community honors Springfield business owner shot and killed

SPRINGIFELD — Springfield Police have not caught the person who shot and killed business Thomas Gill and have not said if they have any suspects.

>>PHOTOS: Community pays respects to Springfield businessman shot and killed

Gill was shot while he was in his SUV last week.

News Center 7′s Haley Kosik was a vigil for Gill late Monday afternoon and spoke with a family member.

Thomas ‘Tom’ Gill owned Gill’s Quality Meat Market for more than two decades and his brother told Kosik this Thursday would have marked a week since he was shot but should been his 25th anniversary owning the business.

“I always looked to Tom. He taught me a lot about life.”

Kosik said roughly 50 friends, family and customers came together outside Gill’s Quality Meat Market for a vigil.

>>PREVIOUS STORY: ’Nicest man that you could ever meet;’ People mourning business owner shot and killed in Springfield

Kenny Gill, Tom’s brother, spoke at the vigil and said his big brother was perfect for the job.

“My brother Tom was 6′ 7″ when he was at his healthiest,” he said. " And because he was a butcher, he used to weigh 240.”

Thomas Gill bought his property at the corner of Selma Avenue and Sunset Boulevard in 1998.

Less than a mile from his store, somebody shot him near Kenton and Burt Street Thursday nights.

“All we can hope is that people just decide hey, enough is enough,” Kenny told Kosik.

>>1 person injured after crashing into the Dayton Foundation building

Some people from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office attended the vigil, including Sheriff Deb Burchett, to support the family.

“He would literally give you the shirt off his back,” said Kenny. “Might be a little bit because he was a big man, but he’d give it to you.”

Kosik said that’s how his family wants to be remembered.

>>Coroner ID’s 2 men killed in shooting at Dayton apartment complex

Tom’s oldest son will now operate Gill’s Quality Meats.

A visitation will be held Thursday at Conroy Funeral Home on E. High Street from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., according to his obituary webpage.

A private family service will held at a later date.

The family is asking for donations in lieu of flowers and they be made in honor of Tom for his son and grandkids at Richwood Bank in a donation account, his obituary said.

1 of 10