On February 6, 2023, 52-year-old Garry A. Marx Jr. was fatally shot in the neck outside a residence on Dueber Avenue SW in Canton, Ohio, while placing laundry into his car. Emergency responders transported him to Aultman Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Canton police quickly identified 22-year-old Jamaari Harper as the primary suspect.
Upon attempting to apprehend him, Harper jumped from a second-story window in an effort to evade arrest but was subsequently captured and taken into custody.
In October 2023, following a three-day trial, a jury found Harper guilty of murder, felonious assault, and aggravated robbery, all accompanied by firearm specifications. Stark County Common Pleas Judge Kristin G. Farmer sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 32 years.
Born on June 25, 1971, Garry "Bam Bam Jr." Marx Jr. was known for his ever-present grin and kind heart. He is survived by his parents, Garry A. Marx Sr. and Victoria "Presley" Marx; his brother, Michael Marx; his fiancée, Maggie Howell; daughters, Elisha Richards and Kayla Mergenthaler; two grandchildren; and numerous extended family members. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to victims of crime in his honor.
The tragic loss of Garry Marx Jr. has profoundly impacted his family and the Canton community, underscoring the devastating effects of violent crime.
