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Stow, Ohio – A young woman was fatally shot while waiting in a Taco Bell drive-thru this past Wednesday night in an apparent murder-suicide.
According to authorities, Megan Keleman, a 25-year-old graduate of Cleveland State University last May, had ordered food and was waiting in line with her dog when she was rammed by Jason Williams (53) who was in the car behind her.
Witnesses to the crime said that Keleman had pulled in front of Williams while he was in the drive-thru line, and Williams then started honking his vehicle’s horn at her.
After Williams rammed her vehicle, Keleman asked the Taco Bell employee at the speaker to call 911.
Williams then got out of his car and approached Keleman and shot her, then shot himself in the head. Both Keleman and Williams were pronounced dead at the scene.
Arriving officers were responding to the reported “private property crash” when they started receiving more 911 calls to report the shooting.
Stow Police Chief Jeffrey Film said in a statement: “As chief of police and a community leader, I would like to say that this is a true tragedy. Not only the Kelemans lost a daughter, but we as a community lost one of our daughters.”
Detectives are still investigating a motive behind the attack but Chief Film said there is no indication the victim and shooter knew each other prior to their encounter in the drive-thru. Police are currently working to gather more information and determine the circumstances that led to the tragic incident.
“We have no information to indicate that the two subjects knew each other,” Film confirmed in a statement.
Kim Polatas, childhood friend of Keleman said about her friend: “She was smart and driven, beautiful, quirky and just an amazing young lady. Her death was so senseless. She had so much to offer that’s why it’s so heartbreaking. Megan’s birthday is in just a couple of weeks and she was just on the cusp of getting started as a natural leader.”
Last March, Williams had been arrested for OVI, open container and improper handling of a firearm in a vehicle. He wasn’t allowed to carry a firearm by court order.
A memorial service for Megan Keleman being held on Wednesday, August 21, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Riverwood Chapel. Keleman’s dog is now with family members after being brought to a rescue group.
