SHELBY, Ohio – George Johnston died on Saturday night after investigators say he shot and killed his wife, Carol, in a murder/suicide at Crestwood Care Center in Shelby.
Details of the incident, including the names of the victims, were made available Monday morning in a Shelby Police Department news release.
After being flown by helicopter to Columbus, George Johnston, 77, died of his self-inflicted wounds at 9:10 p.m. Saturday at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
According to the release, Carol Johnston, 76, was a resident in rehabilitation at Crestwood for a period of six to eight weeks.
“Her husband of 56 years was there every day at 7:30 a.m.,” the release reads. “George confided in employees that his insurance was running out on his wife’s stay and due to her medical needs, he did not believe that he would be able to adequately care for his wife upon her release.”
George Johnston left detailed notes describing what he was doing both in the room at the care center and at his residence, the release continued. The incident occurred between rounds – inside a room with a closed door and in a hallway with a door partially closed to the nurse’s station.
No residents nor employees heard any shots and there where were no signs of a struggle at the scene, according to the release.
“We (the Shelby Police Department) believe that this was a course of action agreed upon by both parties based on information that we have collected during the initial investigation,” the release states.
The Shelby Police Department, along with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Shelby Fire Department, and Community Emergency Medical Services, responded to the double-shooting after a 911 call was placed at approximately 11:44 a.m. Saturday.
Authorities arrived at the scene to find the elderly female resident dead in her room. Her husband was located next to her in a reclining chair suffering from what “appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
The husband was immediately attended to and ultimately taken by Life Flight to the hospital. According to the Saturday release, the couple was discovered by a nurse’s aide making routine rounds in the facility.
The Richland County Coroner and Richland County Prosecutor were notified and BCI was contacted to process the crime scene at 225 W. Main St. in Shelby.
The Richland County Coroner’s Office has scheduled an autopsy to be performed on Mrs. Johnston.
“It appears that George, using a .22 caliber revolver, shot his wife once in the head and then sat down and shot himself,” the latest release states. “The Shelby Police Department appreciates the assistance of the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, who both immediately responded to this call as well as handled calls in the City of Shelby for us during this incident. Likewise, we appreciate the immediate response of our partners at both Shelby Fire and Community EMS, as well as the professional and technical assistance provided by the Richland County Coroner, Richland County Prosecutor, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation Crime Scene Unit.
“We also appreciate the assistance and professionalism of the employees of Crestwood Care, who assisted us throughout our investigation and ensured that residents were still cared for throughout this difficult incident.”
SPD will continue to investigate the incident and will work with its law enforcement partners until all “documentation is assembled” and the case is officially closed, according to the release.
“Most importantly, we want to both extend our sincerest condolences to the family of George and Carol Johnston and to remind everyone that the holiday season can be a difficult time for many of our citizens,” the release states. “Please remember to check on relatives and friends, particularly the elderly and infirmed.”
