As a result of further investigation and information released by Darke County Coroner Dr. Susan Brown, Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker provides the following updated information to yesterday’s shooting incident.
The investigation and evidence supports that some time yesterday Josiah “Joe” Maloon, age 57, of 2535 State Route 571 Greenville, OH brutally beat and shot his wife, Juanita Maloon, age 53, of the same address. The Darke County Coroner’s Office has ruled Juanita’s death as a homicide due to a gunshot wound to the head.
At approximately 2:15 pm yesterday Randy Ward II, age 47, of Ansonia, OH arrived at 2535 State Route 571, at the request of Joe Maloon, for the purpose of a transaction. According to Randy Ward, when he pulled into the drive he obtained cash from Joe Maloon’s vehicle as instructed and that is when Joe Maloon exited his house and started shooting multiple rounds at him. Randy Ward ran to his vehicle to flee the scene and was shot several times. Randy Ward left the scene in his Dodge Challenger while being chased by Joe Maloon in a Nissan Pathfinder SUV. Joe Maloon was shooting at Randy Ward while chasing him and ramming him with his SUV. The vehicles crashed into opposite fields. Joe Maloon died at the scene as a result of his injuries from the crash. Randy Ward is still being treated for multiple gunshot wounds at Miami Valley Hospital.
A handgun was recovered near Joe Maloon at the crash scene and the firearm appears to be similar to the caliber believed to be used on his wife and Randy Ward, however, further forensic examination will be necessary to confirm this.
Firearm spent shell casings and a white powdery substance in packaging was located in the driveway of 2535 State Route 571 in the area where Randy Ward reported the shooting started. Forensic testing will be needed to identify and confirm these findings.
This investigation is still ongoing but the results thus far is what leads me to believe Joe Maloon was the primary threat in these cases and that threat no longer exists.