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Devastation following murder-suicide at Stow Taco Bell drive-thru, including for the victim's dog

Additionally, the victim's dog was found alive in her car. Animal rescuers who took the pup say 'you could tell it was devastated.'

STOW, Ohio — Dispatchers with the Stow Police Department received dozens of 911 calls from bystanders reporting the shooting at a Taco Bell on Graham Road.

"I saw a man with a gun out shooting into a vehicle," one caller told dispatcher.

"This guy just shot himself in the drive-thru of the Taco Bell,” another caller said frantically. “He shot somebody and shot himself."

Officers responded minutes later, and saw 53-year-old Jason Williams dead on the ground from what they say was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Steps away from him was 25-year-old Megan Keleman, who was behind the wheel of her car with several fatal bullet wounds.

During a news conference Thursday, Stow police said they believe Williams shot her after crashing into her car from behind first.

"Officers were dispatched to respond to a private property crash," Police Chief Jeff Film said. "Moments later, we received several 911, calls reporting a shooting at the same location. Witnesses reported that a male in the drive-thru line exited the vehicle, approached the car in front of his and shot the driver. He then used a gun to kill himself."

Keleman's dog was in the passenger seat and still there, physically unharmed, when authorities arrived. Police called Rubber City Rescue to remove the pup car safely out the car.

Credit: Provided by Stow Police Department
Megan Keleman with her dog

The Akron-based animal rescue runs on donations and assists first responders to make sure animals are safe from incidents police or fire departments respond to, but staff say they've never seen anything like this.

"It was sad, I mean, knowing that that dog had to witness its owner get murdered," Jason Johnson, vice president of Rubber City Rescue, told 3News. "When I took it the groomer, they were a little hesitant to use the air dryer because of how loud it is with it just experiencing all the gunshots."

The dog is now safe with Keleman's family following a traumatic experience.

"This dog last night knew something was going on, and you could tell it was devastated."

Police are currently trying to put the pieces of this tragedy together to help a mourning community.

"We received several phone calls asking us how this could've happened, and again, I don't have the 'Why?' I don't know," Film added. "This is a tragic event, and we're still trying to determine the motivation behind the shooter."

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