Michael Hance and the 2011 Copley Township Massacre
Overview
Michael Edward Hance was a 51-year-old resident of Copley Township, Ohio, who carried out a deadly shooting rampage on August 7, 2011. The violence unfolded across several neighboring properties near Goodenough Avenue and Schocalog Road, a residential area west of Akron. Hance killed seven people, including two children, and seriously wounded his longtime girlfriend before he was confronted and killed by law enforcement.
The attack began shortly before 11:00 a.m. and developed rapidly as Hance moved between homes, yards and driveways while armed with two handguns. Several of the victims were members of his girlfriend’s family, while others belonged to a neighboring family. One victim was a teenage visitor who happened to be sitting in a parked vehicle when she became caught in the violence.
Events Leading to the Shooting
Hance lived with his girlfriend, Rebecca “Becky” Dieter, in the 2300 block of Goodenough Avenue. People who knew him described him as quiet, eccentric and sometimes helpful, but several acquaintances also recalled increasingly unusual behavior. Dieter later said that Hance had experienced depression, difficulty sleeping and behavior she believed was connected to serious psychological problems.
Hance had reportedly become involved in disagreements with neighbors Russell and Gudrun Johnson. There were also signs that he had become agitated with members of Dieter’s family. The precise motive for the massacre was never conclusively established because Hance died at the scene and left no verified explanation for his actions.
In the days before the killings, Hance obtained firearms, ammunition and a holster. He reportedly visited a shooting range several times. Investigators later determined that he was armed during the attack with a .45-caliber Hi-Point pistol and a Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum revolver.
The Attack on Rebecca Dieter
On Sunday, August 7, 2011, Hance first attacked 49-year-old Rebecca Dieter inside or near the home they shared on Goodenough Avenue. He shot her, but she remained conscious and managed to call 911. Dieter attempted to escape and reached the porch, where Hance shot her again in the back.
Realizing that Hance was still nearby, Dieter remained motionless and pretended to be dead. That decision likely saved her life. She was eventually rescued and transported for emergency medical treatment. Although seriously wounded, she survived and became the only person shot by Hance who lived.
Killings at the Neighboring Property
After shooting Dieter, Hance moved toward an adjoining residence. He encountered Dieter’s brother, Craig Dieter, and shot him to death. Hance then continued attacking people connected to the neighboring Johnson family.
Russell Johnson, 67, and his wife, Gudrun Johnson, 64, were killed at or near their residence. Their 16-year-old granddaughter, Autumn Johnson, was also fatally shot. Autumn had been staying with her grandparents and was among the first members of the Johnson family attacked.
Sixteen-year-old Amelia Shambaugh was visiting the neighborhood and was seated in a parked vehicle when Hance approached. She was not believed to have been involved in any dispute with him. Hance shot and killed her as the rampage continued.
The Pursuit and Murder of Bryan Johnson
Bryan Johnson, the 44-year-old son of Russell and Gudrun Johnson and the father of Autumn Johnson, attempted to escape from Hance. Hance pursued him away from the immediate Goodenough Avenue property and toward Schocalog Road.
The pursuit ended in a nearby driveway, where Hance shot Bryan Johnson to death. The movement of the attack from one property to another created confusion for residents and responding officers, who received reports of gunfire and victims at multiple locations.
The Murder of Scott Dieter
Craig Dieter’s 11-year-old son, Scott Dieter, fled from Hance and entered another nearby home. Scott attempted to hide in the basement with resident Melonie Bagley and her children. He reportedly concealed himself behind a furnace as Hance searched the residence.
Bagley attempted to protect the children and initially denied that Scott was inside. She then escaped from the house with members of her family. Hance entered the basement, found Scott and fatally shot him. Other children who had been hiding in or near the basement survived.
Police Confrontation
Copley Township police officers and other armed responders arrived as Hance emerged from the residential area. Officer Ben Campbell and Keith Lavery, a former Copley police officer who was in the neighborhood, confronted Hance and ordered him to drop his weapon.
Hance refused to surrender. He raised and fired his gun toward the men, prompting them to return fire. Officer Campbell fired the shots that killed Hance, ending the rampage before he could reach additional residents or continue shooting.
The entire series of attacks lasted only a short period, but it left seven victims dead, one survivor seriously wounded and several families devastated. Including Hance, eight people died during the incident.
Victims of the August 7, 2011 Shooting
- Craig Dieter – Killed on August 7, 2011, at or near the homes in the 2300 block of Goodenough Avenue in Copley Township, Ohio. He was Rebecca Dieter’s brother and Scott Dieter’s father.
- Scott Dieter, 11 – Killed on August 7, 2011, after fleeing into a nearby Goodenough Avenue residence and hiding in its basement. He was Craig Dieter’s son.
- Russell Johnson, 67 – Killed on August 7, 2011, at or near his residence on Goodenough Avenue in Copley Township. He was Gudrun Johnson’s husband and the grandfather of Autumn Johnson.
- Gudrun Johnson, 64 – Killed on August 7, 2011, at or near the Johnson family residence on Goodenough Avenue. She was Russell Johnson’s wife and Autumn Johnson’s grandmother.
- Bryan Johnson, 44 – Killed on August 7, 2011, in a driveway near Schocalog Road after Hance chased him from the Goodenough Avenue area. He was the son of Russell and Gudrun Johnson and the father of Autumn Johnson.
- Autumn Johnson, 16 – Killed on August 7, 2011, at or near her grandparents’ Goodenough Avenue residence. She was Bryan Johnson’s daughter and the granddaughter of Russell and Gudrun Johnson.
- Amelia Shambaugh, 16 – Killed on August 7, 2011, while sitting in a parked vehicle near the Goodenough Avenue residences. She was visiting the neighborhood and was not a member of either family involved in the underlying disputes.
Sole Shooting Survivor
- Rebecca “Becky” Dieter, 49 – Shot and seriously wounded on August 7, 2011, at the home she shared with Hance on Goodenough Avenue. She survived after calling 911, attempting to escape and pretending to be dead after being shot again.
Investigation and Possible Motive
Investigators examined Hance’s recent behavior, firearms purchases and relationships with the victims. Reports indicated that he had experienced financial and employment difficulties and had become increasingly agitated. He had also helped care for Dieter’s elderly father, who suffered from dementia, and may have felt overwhelmed by changes in his personal life.
Authorities considered whether disputes involving the Johnson family, members of Dieter’s family or the condition of Hance’s property contributed to his anger. Police officials also examined evidence suggesting that Hance may have contemplated violence beyond the neighborhood. However, no single motive fully explained why he targeted every person he encountered.
Rebecca Dieter later expressed her belief that Hance had been experiencing delusions or a psychotic episode. Those observations were made after his death and did not amount to a formal diagnosis established before the massacre. Whatever his mental condition, the attack involved deliberate preparation, loaded firearms and the pursuit of victims across several properties.
Aftermath and Memorials
The massacre shocked Copley Township and the greater Akron community. Memorial services were held for the victims, and residents gathered to support the Dieter, Johnson and Shambaugh families. Flags were lowered, and community observances were later held on anniversaries of the attack.
Officer Ben Campbell received significant recognition for confronting Hance and stopping the shooting. He was honored as one of the nation’s leading law enforcement officers and later received the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery. His actions, along with the assistance provided by Keith Lavery and other responders, were credited with preventing further deaths.
The Copley Township massacre remains one of the deadliest acts of mass violence in northeastern Ohio. The attack was particularly devastating because it occurred within a small residential neighborhood and destroyed several generations of one family. Russell and Gudrun Johnson, their son Bryan and their granddaughter Autumn were all killed, while Craig Dieter and his young son Scott were also murdered. Amelia Shambaugh, a teenage visitor with no known connection to Hance’s grievances, was killed simply because she was present when the rampage unfolded.
