By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The investigation continues into the suspected murder-suicide in Pemberville on Thursday.
Cierra McCrory, an Eastwood junior who enjoyed art class and whose name was repeatedly on the honor roll, was fatally shot by Lukas Miller, 19, of Clay Township, Michigan, according to the Wood County Sheriff’s Office. It appears that Miller then turned the gun on himself, the sheriff’s office reported.
The shootings took place inside 310 Perry St., where McCrory, 17, lived with her mother.
Her mother reportedly discovered the bodies when she arrived home around 9 a.m. on Thursday. It was not known how long the two people had been dead.
The preliminary investigation concluded that Miller used a handgun, though it is unknown where he obtained the firearm.
“We are still looking into where the gun came from,” Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylysyn said Thursday afternoon.
Sheriff’s deputies and Pemberville Police Department arrived at the Perry Street home around 9:15 a.m. The Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation processed the crime scene. The Wood County Coroner’s Office is also helping with the investigation.
Wasylyshyn said a full investigation will be conducted, even though the crime scene indicated a murder-suicide. The sheriff’s office will be the primary agency on the case.
“We always do a complete investigation just to make sure,” he said.
Wasylyshyn visited Eastwood High School Thursday afternoon, where he talked with Cierra’s art teacher, who said the junior was a good artist and seemed happy at school on Wednesday.
The sheriff also talked with Eastwood Superintendent Brent Welker, who said the district had additional counselors on hand today and would again on Friday for students who need to talk.
Miller, who was a former student at Eastwood, had at one time been dating McCrory. According to Wasylyshyn, Miller’s father had died a couple years ago and he was being raised by his aunt.
