April Lynn Lazar, a 28-year-old Caucasian woman from Chillicothe, Ohio, tragically lost her life on January 5, 2016. She was staying at her sister’s home in Chillicothe when she was fatally shot. According to reports, the incident occurred early in the morning when April Lazar stepped outside to investigate flickering lights in the family van. At that moment, her brother-in-law, Jerry Way, who had allegedly been lying in wait, emerged and shot her.
Jerry Way, a 34-year-old man, had reportedly been asked to leave the home by his wife, Bobbie Way, just days prior due to a violent altercation in which he had stabbed her. On the morning of the shooting, Bobbie Way witnessed the attack and immediately fled across neighborhood yards to seek help. She made a frantic 911 call, informing the dispatcher that her husband had shot her sister and that two of their three children were still inside the home. Authorities arrived at the scene and found April Lazar deceased in the backyard, but Jerry Way had already fled in his wife’s white Dodge Caravan.
A manhunt ensued, with police tracking Jerry Way’s movements, including monitoring his social media activity. Hours later, law enforcement in Richmond, Indiana, located the suspect’s vehicle in a parking lot near a Hobby Lobby store. As officers approached, they discovered that Jerry Way had shot himself in the head. He was transported to a Dayton-area hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Authorities confirmed that Jerry Way had been charged with murder before his death.
Following the tragedy, Chillicothe police worked to ensure the safety of the family, including the children. Investigators continued to examine the circumstances surrounding the case, including any prior history of domestic violence between Jerry and Bobbie Way. The devastating event left the family and community in mourning, as they grappled with the loss of April Lazar and the violent circumstances surrounding her death.
