Monroe Township, Ohio—An Ohio man, Chad Doerman, 32, has been charged with three counts of aggravated murder following a tragic incident where his three young sons were found shot and killed, CrimeSpace can report.
The horrifying incident took place on Thursday in Monroe Township, about 25 miles southwest of Cincinnati, as reported by the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to distressing calls received around 4 p.m. The first call came from a woman frantically reporting that her babies had been shot. The second call was from a witness who observed a young girl running down the road, shouting that her father was killing everyone.
Upon arriving at a residence in the 1900 block of Laurel Lindale Road, authorities discovered Chad Doerman sitting on a step outside the home, police said in a news release.
Tragically, Doerman’s three sons, aged 3, 4, and 7, were found shot and unresponsive in the yard of the residence. Paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but sadly, the boys succumbed to their injuries at the scene.
The boys’ mother, aged 34, was also shot in the hand and was found outside the home. She received medical attention at the University Hospital in Cincinnati for a non-life-threatening injury.
During the bond hearing on Friday, prosecutors disclosed chilling details of the alleged crime. They accused Doerman of meticulously planning the attack, describing how he lined up his young sons and executed them with a rifle.
Prosecutors also stated that the mother had attempted to intervene, grabbing the gun in an effort to protect the children. However, Doerman allegedly pursued one of the boys, dragged him back to the property, and executed him in front of witnesses.
Doerman was detained without incident at the scene and subsequently interviewed by detectives. He is currently being held without bond at the Clermont County Jail.
Authorities have not found any signs of forced entry into the residence, and they are not actively searching for additional suspects at this time.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and an ongoing investigation is underway. Court documents indicate that Doerman confessed to planning and carrying out the victims’ deaths for several months.
During his arraignment, Doerman appeared visibly emotional, wearing a green bulletproof vest, and was seen shedding tears as prosecutors recounted the horrifying events of that fateful day.
The bond was set at an unprecedented $20 million, the highest ever requested by prosecutors. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 26. It is currently unknown whether Doerman has legal representation.
In response to this devastating incident, the New Richmond School District Superintendent expressed heartfelt condolences and announced the availability of grief counselors at Monroe Elementary School to support the community affected by this tragedy.
