Howard Smith, a 49-year-old man from Newton Falls, Ohio, tragically died on December 31, 2016. He was born on July 26, 1967, in Ravenna, Ohio. Howard Smith was a resident of the apartment where he was found shot in the head. The incident occurred early in the morning, and despite initial survival, he later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
The Trumbull County coroner ruled Smith's death as accidental after performing an autopsy.
However, Newton Falls police Chief Gene Fixler stated that the case remained open due to some unresolved details. According to the police report, a woman named Tammy Szesze was present in the apartment at the time of the shooting. She claimed that Smith was showing her a gun, which he believed was not loaded, when it accidentally discharged.
Despite the coroner's ruling, the Newton Falls Police Department continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Chief Fixler mentioned that he planned to discuss the case with the prosecutor to ensure all loose ends were tied up. The Trumbull County Homicide Task Force was also involved in the investigation due to the suspicious nature of the death.
In summary, Howard Smith's death was initially ruled accidental, but the ongoing investigation and unresolved details kept the case open. The tragic incident occurred in his apartment, and the presence of another person at the scene added complexity to the case.
