In the summer of 2015, a family argument in Warsaw, Indiana, escalated into a tragedy that ended a man's life and sent his son to prison. Ronnie Poe, a 60-year-old male, was fatally shot in his home on the evening of July 3, 2015. The incident occurred at his residence on Levi Lee Road, a place he had lived in for two decades.
The events of that fatal night began with a disagreement between Ronnie Poe and his 35-year-old son, Ryan Daniel Poe.
The argument reportedly started while the family was having dinner. According to another son, Aaron Poe, who was present, the dispute was over Ryan not 'pulling his weight.' The verbal altercation intensified, leading Ronnie to tell Ryan to leave the house to cool off. Shortly after, Ryan emerged from his bedroom with a. 410 shotgun and shot his father in the head. Aaron witnessed the shooting and caught his father before he fell to the ground.
Following the shooting, Ryan Poe retreated to his bedroom. His mother, Deanna Poe, called 911 to report the incident. When Kosciusko County Sheriff's deputies arrived at the mobile home, they found Ronnie Poe deceased in the hallway. Ryan Poe surrendered to the officers without incident and was taken into custody. He reportedly admitted to the authorities that he had shot his father with a. 410 slug after they had been arguing. The shotgun used in the shooting was described as an heirloom that Ronnie had given to his son.
Ryan Daniel Poe was initially charged with murder. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter with a firearm enhancement. During the sentencing, the judge acknowledged that Ryan may have acted out of fear for his own safety. In January 2016, Ryan Poe was sentenced to a fixed term of 40 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. He was also ordered to pay restitution.
