Richland County Commissioner Edward Olson confirmed tonight that Richland County Prosecutor James Mayer Jr. died tonight at his Mansfield home of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Neighbors Michael Seveigny, Susan Vigessa and Tom Banks all confirmed hearing what they described as sounding like a single gunshot at approximately 5:45 p.m. this evening near the intersection of Dickson Parkway and Bigelow Road in Mansfield’s Woodland neighborhood.
Moments later, they said, the first of many emergency vehicles arrived at the Mayer home. Authorities were still on scene more than two hours later, including the Richland County Coroner’s office as well as a crime scene investigation unit. At 9:45 p.m., some authorities remained at the home while media from Cleveland and Columbus waited for a statement.
At about the same time, from his front doorstep, Olson further confirmed that the Commissioners would meet at 9 a.m. Monday to name First Assistant Prosecutor Bambi Couch-Page as the interim successor to Mayer retroactive to Sept. 26, citing the need for continuity in the prosecutor’s office.
In a press release issued by Chief Ken Coontz, the Mansfield Police Department assured the community that the incident did not represent a threat, and that more information regarding Mayer’s death would be made available on Monday.
