NORTH CANTON, Ohio (WJW) — A 77-year-old man is suspected of firing a revolver at a Washington Square restaurant, after accusing workers there of giving him food poisoning.
Officers responded just before 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, to Lucky Star Express, 1973 Maple St., Canton, in the Washington Square plaza, for a report of shots fired, according to a Sunday news release.
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Witnesses at a nearby restaurant, who called 911, told police they saw the man fire a revolver toward the restaurant, which was closed at the time.
Minutes later, officers found the man, identified as Robert W. Henderson, 77, of North Canton, behind the wheel of a car in the parking lot, with a rifle in the passenger seat. He was arrested without incident.
Officers noted two bullet holes in the store’s front door — one in the door frame and another near its locking cylinder, North Canton police Maj. Matthew Buzzard told FOX 8 News.
Officers later recovered from his vehicle a .357-caliber revolver matching witnesses’ description, according to the release.
No one was injured. Officers later confirmed workers were in the rear of the store, but they don’t believe the man was shooting toward them or trying to break into the store, Buzzard said.
After the shooting, witnesses said they saw Henderson drive around the parking lot then park again near the restaurant, Buzzard said. That’s where North Canton officers found him.
Officers later spoke with the man’s wife, who said she and her husband had eaten food from Lucky Star days prior, then developed what appeared to be food poisoning, Buzzard said.
Officers who followed up with restaurant workers after the shooting said Henderson was in the store earlier in the day, “yelling about them giving him food poisoning,” he said.
Henderson maintained his innocence and denied shooting at the restaurant, Buzzard said.
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Charging documents obtained by FOX 8 News allege there were at least six victims, all people from the nearby restaurant, whom Henderson made to fear for their lives.
Henderson is now charged with felony counts of inducing panic and vandalism and eight misdemeanor counts including charges of aggravated menacing and discharging a firearm in a public place, Canton Municipal Court records show.
Henderson was held in the Stark County jail without bond, before his arraignment on Tuesday, Aug. 26, where he was handed a $75,000 bond on the felony counts, court records show.
Henderson is due back in court on Thursday, Aug. 28, court records show.
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