advertisement

Man who shot judge is father of player convicted of rape

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio (AP) - The man who shot and wounded a judge outside a county courthouse before being gunned down by a probation officer was the father of a Steubenville High School football player who was convicted of rape in 2013, authorities said Monday.

Jefferson County Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. was shot at around 8 a.m. near the courthouse in Steubenville, just across the Ohio River from West Virginia's northern panhandle, roughly 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Pittsburgh.

Authorities identified the gunman as Nathaniel "Nate" Richmond, the father of Ma'Lik Richmond. Ma'Lik served about 10 months in a juvenile lockup after being convicted with another Steubenville High School football player of raping a 16-year-old girl during an alcohol-fueled party in 2012.

The case brought international attention to the eastern Ohio city of 18,000 and led to allegations of a cover-up to protect the football team.

Investigators are still looking for a motive in the shooting and haven't found a connection to the rape case, said Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane Hanlin.

A visiting judge from Hamilton County, where Cincinnati is located, handled the vast majority of the rape case.

Courthouse video on Monday shows both the judge and Nate Richmond firing about five times each, said Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla.

"Whoever thought this could happen here?" Abdalla said.

Steubenville City Manager James Mavromatis tells WTOV-TV that Bruzzese was talking after being wounded. He was flown to a Pittsburgh-area hospital. Republican Gov. John Kasich said he was told the judge would survive.

The attack had to be intentional because people know about the reserved spots where judges park, said one of Bruzzese's judicial colleagues.

Judge Joseph Corabi said he and the county's two other judges park in reserved spots next to the courthouse in eastern Ohio. Judges then walk a few feet down what's known as "Courthouse Alley" to a side entrance to the building, said Corabi, the Jefferson County juvenile and probate court judge.

"Everybody knows who parks there. That's why it's not an accident what happened. He was clearly an intended target," Corabi said.

Ma'Lik Richmond is currently on the Youngstown State football team but isn't allowed to play in any games, the school said earlier this month in responding to criticism surrounding his participation.

Corabi said Bruzzese is known as an avid hunter. He called him fair, hard-working, well-liked and "a tough son of a gun."

"He is very intelligent and he can cut to the chase," Corabi said. "He spots issues and he resolves the issues."

Bruzzese, 65, hears general and domestic relations cases as one of two judges serving in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court.

Bruzzese has served on that court since 1997, according to Ohio Supreme Court records. He was most recently re-elected in 2014 for another six-year term.

Bruzzese had likely arrived early to review his usual Monday morning batch of legal motions, Corabi said.

Local media reported that the suspect's body could be seen lying next to a car at the drive-thru of a neighboring bank. Police said a man who was in the car with him was taken into custody.

The courthouse was closed for the day as local and state authorities helped secure the scene. Jefferson County Commissioner Thomas Graham told WTOV that some courthouse workers witnessed the "tragic situation" and that people would need time to process what had happened.

The state crime lab will help investigate the shooting, said Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine.

The chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court called the attack a "cowardly ambush" and urged court personnel - especially judges - to take extra precautions.

The attack "reminds us all of the very real potential for violence against judges," Maureen O'Connor said. "Violence against judges represents an attack on the Rule of Law, the foundation of our country

This undated still image from video provided by WTOV-TV in Steubenville, Ohio, shows Jefferson County, Ohio Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. Bruzzese was shot and wounded Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, as he walked toward his county's courthouse in Steubenville, Ohio, and a suspect was killed after a probation officer returned fire, officials said. (WTOV-TV via AP) The Associated Press
This Aug. 21, 2017 image made from video provided by WTOV-TV in Steubenville, Ohio, shows a police vehicle responding to the ambush-style shooting of Jefferson County Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. as he walked toward the Jefferson County Courthouse. Bruzzese was wounded and the suspect was killed after a probation officer returned fire, officials said. (WTOV-TV via AP) The Associated Press
Steubenville, Ohio, police officers, Jefferson County Sheriff's Department deputies and other investigators work following an ambush-style shooting of Jefferson County Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, on the Court Street side of the Jefferson County Courthouse in Steubenville, Ohio. Bruzzese was shot and wounded Monday morning as he walked toward his county's courthouse, and a suspect was killed after a probation officer returned fire, officials said. (Mark Law/Herald-Star via AP) The Associated Press
Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla talks about the shooting of Jefferson County Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. adjacent to the Courthouse, Monday Aug. 21, 2017 in Steubenville , Ohio. Abdallah says courthouse video shows Bruzzese firing about five shots at the gunman, who also fired about five shots before a probation officer ultimately killed the suspect. (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) The Associated Press
This Aug. 21, 2017 image made from video provided by WTOV-TV in Steubenville, Ohio, shows a police vehicle responding to the ambush-style shooting of Jefferson County Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. as he walked toward the Jefferson County Courthouse. Bruzzese was wounded and the suspect was killed after a probation officer returned fire, officials said. (WTOV-TV via AP) The Associated Press
The crime scene is photographed by investigators at the Huntington Bank, next to the Courthouse, in Steubenville, Ohio, Monday Aug. 21, 2017, after Jefferson County Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. was ambushed and shot while walking to work early Monday morning. (Darrell Sapp//Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) The Associated Press
City Manager James Mavromatis speaks during a press conference in Steubenville, Ohio, held across the street from the Jefferson County Courthouse, near the spot where Common Pleas Judge Joseph Bruzzese was shot Monday morning, Aug. 21, 2017. Bruzzese walking from his car into the county courthouse was shot by a gunman Monday morning but managed to fire back before a probation officer stepped in and ultimately killed the suspect, authorities said. (Mark Law/Herald-Star via AP) The Associated Press
Evidence markers are placed on N. Court Street and the sidewalk next to the Jefferson County Courthouse in Steubenville , Ohio, Monday Aug. 21, 2017, after Jefferson County Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. was ambushed and shot early Monday morning. Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla says courthouse video shows Bruzzese firing about five shots at the gunman, who also fired about five shots before a probation officer ultimately killed the suspect. (Darrell Sapp//Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) The Associated Press
City of Steubenville manager Jim Mavronatis talks to the media with the Jefferson County Courthouse in the background, in Steubenville, Ohio, Monday August 21, 2017, after Jefferson County Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. was ambushed and shot early Monday morning. Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla says courthouse video shows Bruzzese firing about five shots at the gunman, who also fired about five shots before a probation officer ultimately killed the suspect. (Darrell Sapp/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.