News & Events

Criminal Law Society to Host Two-Day Series on I-270 Sniper Case

March 10, 2008

Contact: Barbara Peck, (614) 292-0283

In 2003, Ohio fell victim to several sniper attacks along Interstate 270 and other nearby highways mostly in and around Columbus. One person was killed as a result of a shooting in November 2003. No suspect was found for several months, and the shootings caused wide-spread fear in and around central Ohio. Drivers used back roads and schools canceled classes and held recess indoors.

In March 2004, Charles A. McCoy Jr. was arrested and stood trial on dozens of charges related to the shootings. After a trial resulted in a hung jury, McCoy, who was later determined mentally ill, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and 10 other charges. He was sentenced in 2005 to 27 years in prison.

The first day of a two-day series analyzing the shootings will be held Tuesday, March 11, at the Moritz College of Law titled “Solving the I-270 Sniper Case.” The chief deputy sheriff and lead FBI agent on the case will speak to students, faculty, and staff about the experience. Investigators will discuss the investigation of the case from beginning to end, particularly their involvement with the prosecution. The event will start at noon in Saxbe Auditorium.

The second day of the event will be March 25 in Saxbe, titled “An Inside Look at the I-270 Sniper Trial.” At that event, two attorneys from the case, the prosecutor and defense counsel, will be on hand to discuss their strategies. The attorneys will focus on how they handled such a large media case as well as their involvement with the investigators, any ethical concerns they had at the time, and how they structured and prepared for their respective cases. Both events are sponsored by Moritz’s Criminal Law Society. Pizza will be served for those who attend.

For more information, contact Courtney Boyd at boyd.275@osu.edu.

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