William H. Lax III, a 44-year-old man from Dover, Ohio, tragically died on February 3, 2015. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time at the Tuscarawas River. Lax was employed by Zorzi, Inc. and was well-loved by his family and friends for his cooking and love for animals.
The circumstances surrounding his death involved William H. Lyons, a 58-year-old man from Dover, who was accused of fatally shooting Lax.
On the night of the incident, Lax visited Lyons' apartment to pay his weekly rent. During the visit, Lyons and Lax consumed alcohol, and Lyons had been smoking marijuana. Lyons described Lax as "acting stupid" and asked him to leave several times. When Lax refused, Lyons took a .357 magnum off a gun rack and attempted to intimidate him. According to Lyons, Lax charged at him and grabbed the barrel of the gun, prompting Lyons to fire a single round that hit Lax.
Lax was flown to Aultman Hospital in Canton, where he later died from his injuries. Lyons called 911 immediately after the shooting, claiming self-defense. He was charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter with a gun specification. The first jury trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury, and prosecutors decided to retry Lyons.
The case drew significant attention in the Dover community, with many awaiting the outcome of the retrial. Lyons faced a potential sentence of up to 11 years in prison if convicted. The retrial was scheduled to proceed, with the prosecution confident in their evidence and witness testimony.
William H. Lax III's death left a void in the lives of his family and friends, who remembered him fondly for his love of the outdoors and his kind-hearted nature.
