Homicidal home invaders: ''I come to rob you''

July 13, 2004
Columbus Dispatch

Masked gunmen kill two at home

One man was dead and another in custody as authorities early this morning closed in on two suspects from a triple-shooting in a Franklin Township home early yesterday. Franklin County deputies called for Columbus police dogs and a helicopter after the men were cornered along Hall Road near Hilltonia Drive about 12:15 this morning. One of the suspects, Paul Anthony Speakman, shot himself as officers moved in, Chief Deputy Steve Martin said.

The other, Kristoffer Todd Morris, was caught about 12:45 a.m. when a police helicopter spotted him laying in a creekbed. Morris had a gun and was wearing body armor but surrendered.

Both had been charged with one count each of aggravated murder in connection with a triple shooting yesterday that killed a teenager and a man and injured a third person.

Clifford Shortridge Jr., 17, who lived in the house at 1324 Brown Rd. where the shootings occurred, was shot in the face and killed about 2:30 a.m., when he stepped out of his bedroom, said Teresa Buzzard, who lives across the street.

Russell Bonner, 26, who worked for the tree-trimming business that Shortridge’s father owns, was shot on the porch.

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When deputies arrived at the house, both the teen and Bonner were dead.

Warrants were filed yesterday for the men authorities think killed them: Morris, 26, of 580 E. Town St. No. 135, and Speakman, 25, who lived at 4364 Monterey Court.

According to a woman who witnessed the Brown Road shootings, two men began shooting about 2:30 a.m. as they approached people on the porch of the home.

The gunfire continued as the men made their way inside the house, she said.

Shortridge’s father, Clifford Shortridge Sr., was awakened by the commotion. He stepped out of his bedroom and was grazed on the chest by a bullet.

After being released from Mount Carmel West hospital yesterday, Shortridge, 35, stood in front of his house, still clad in a hospital gown, recounting for a deputy what had happened. He couldn’t go inside his house to get his clothes because detectives still were investigating.

" ‘I come to rob you,’ " Shortridge said, recalling what one of the masked men told him.

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Adjacent to the home, Shortridge operates Shortridge Tree Service.

It was unclear last night how deputies made the tie to Morris and Speakman.

Before the gunmen left the home, they fired numerous shots, Martin said.

Shortridge, his wife, Glenna, and their five children were inside the house at the time.

Clifford Jr. was hit when he also stepped out of a bedroom. None of the other children, ranging in age from 15 years to 16 months old, was injured.

"It’s just surreal," Buzzard said. "It’s appalling that people can’t have safety and privacy in their own home."

On Sunday, Shortridge, his family, some company employees and friends had gone to Laurelville in Hocking County, where Shortridge hosted a cookout at a farmhouse he owns there, May said.

They returned late Sunday night and some were still on the porch talking when the shootings happened.

Clifford Jr. worked for his father’s company. Recently, his father bought him a motorcycle, but he hadn’t yet put many miles on it, said Woody Perez, a company employee.

"He was just starting to learn" to ride it, Perez said. "It’s a damn shame."

Bonner moved to Columbus a few months ago from Pennsboro, W.Va., because his girlfriend lives in Columbus, said Bonner’s sister, Shannon Ritchey. Another reason for the move was because Bonner had gotten into trouble in West Virginia, Ritchey said from her home there.

"He was just trying to get a new start."

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Commentary:
In this case, like most, the police only arrived in time to recover the bodies and to apprehend the perps.

This same harsh reality played out in Akron yesterday, as the 61 year-old owner of a tire store was shot Monday morning during a robbery

The robbery took place at A & R Tire Co., 310 N. Howard St., around 9:10 a.m., according to the Akron Police Department. Arthur Taub, 61, was getting out of his vehicle before opening the store when he was approached by a man brandishing a gun.

The man told Taub he was robbing him and shot him in the left leg, police said. The suspect fled with Taub's briefcase, which contained an undisclosed amount of money.

Whether at home or at work, only you can protect you.
FLASHBACK: Columbus Dispatch, August 2003: Home invaders pick wrong family to rob

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