Huron County man charged in neighbor's shooting death
WILLARD – A 50-year-old man is being detained in the Huron County Jail on a $1 million bond on a charge of murder, accused by authorities of fatally shooting a neighbor Tuesday night while she was mowing her yard.
Norwalk Law Director Stuart O'Hara said James H. Blair, 50, had bond set Wednesday. A preliminary hearing is likely to be held Aug. 7 in Norwalk Municipal Court. O'Hara said Blair has been charged with murder, an unspecified felony.
Huron County Coroner Dr. Jeff Harwood on Tuesday said the 62-year-old woman suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head while she was mowing her yard around 9 p.m. The woman has not been officially identified yet as authorities are attempting to contact next of kin, he said.
Her body is being taken to the Lucas County Coroner's Office for an autopsy.
The News Journal believes the woman to be Linda Ciotto, who is the only neighbor directly next door to Blair. Blair lives at 4328 Kirkwood Drive, according to Huron County Jail records, and Ciotto lives at 4340 Kirkwood Drive, according to Huron County Auditor records.
Authorities were called to Kirkwood Drive around 11:05 p.m. Tuesday after someone reported hearing gun shots on the dead-end street, Huron County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Ted Patrick said. They said to check on the well-being of a female, he said.
When authorities arrived, they found the 62-year-old woman dead, Patrick said.
Police attempted to question Blair, but he refused to answer his door. Authorities surrounded the house overnight and used Ashland County Sheriff's Office's bomb squad robot to track the man's movements in the home, Patrick said.
The man did not leave his home until authorities used tear gas, Patrick said. He was arrested "with very little struggle," he said.
Both homes are roped off and authorities served search warrants to both homes, Patrick said.
Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation spokeswoman Jill Del Greco confirmed Wednesday they sent a crime scene unit to a home in Huron County, but are not handling the investigation. Richland County's Allied Special Operation Response Team and negotiations team also assisted.
Delores Allen, a neighbor who lives on Washburn Road, said authorities had her leave her home around 11 p.m. and told her someone had shot a woman while she was mowing her yard.
"I have no clue what happened, but I did see her coming and going," she said. "I went to my son's house."
Allen said it is usually a very quiet neighborhood.
lwhitmire@gannett.com
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Twitter: @lwhitmir
