Jeffery Scott Paxton Jr., age 41, from Lima, Ohio, tragically lost his life on September 17, 2024, in a shooting incident that occurred in Perry Township. The Allen County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of shots fired at 1820 Charledon Ave., where they discovered Paxton suffering from gunshot wounds. He was promptly transported to Lima Memorial Health System, but unfortunately, he was pronounced deceased upon arrival.
The suspect in this case was identified as Jacob Striff, 23, also from Lima. Striff was taken into custody without incident and initially booked into the Allen County Jail on a preliminary charge of murder. He is being held on a $750,000 cash or surety bond. According to court documents, the incident unfolded when Striff's mother called 911 to report that her son Jeffrey Paxton Jr. had been shot in the neck at the aforementioned address.
During the investigation, Striff claimed self-defense, stating that he had shot Paxton three times because Paxton was allegedly advancing towards him with a screwdriver. Striff recounted to sheriff's detectives that he had been expressing grievances about his brother to his mother when Paxton suggested they could settle their differences with a fight. However, Striff's mother, when interviewed, stated that she did not remember seeing Paxton with a screwdriver and denied having moved or touched such an object.
On November 21, 2024, Striff pleaded not guilty to the charges in the Allen County Common Pleas Court. He faces two counts of murder, categorized as unclassified felonies, along with a second-degree felony charge of felonious assault. Each charge carries three-year specifications related to firearm use. Striff's attorney, Katherine Memsic, indicated their intention to argue self-defense in the case.
The case is ongoing, with a final pretrial conference scheduled for March 14 and a jury trial set to commence on April 7. The Lucas County Coroner's Office was tasked with performing an autopsy as part of the continuing investigation.
