close
close

Ohio graduate ordered food at Taco Bell drive-thru. Another driver shot her in horror murder-suicide

Do you really support
independent journalism

Our mission is to provide unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds the powerful to account and exposes the truth.

Whether it's $5 or $50, every contribution counts.

Support us in practicing journalism without an agenda.

A woman was shot while picking up food at the drive-thru of a Taco Bell restaurant in Ohio in what police say was a horror murder-suicide.

On Wednesday night, Megan Keleman was sitting in the driver's seat of her car ordering food from a Taco Bell in Stow when Jason Williams, 53, rammed her car from behind. New York Post reported.

Witnesses told police that Williams began honking at Keleman as she pulled into the drive-thru line in front of him.

Keleman, a 25-year-old Cleveland State University graduate, yelled at a Taco Bell employee to call 911.

At that moment, Stow Police Chief Jeffrey Film said, Williams got out of his car, shot Keleman and then turned the gun on himself.

Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Both were identified by the Summit County Coroner's Office; Keleman's death was ruled a homicide and Williams' death a suicide.

Megan Keleman, 25, was killed on August 14 while ordering at a Taco Bell drive-in in Stow, Ohio
Megan Keleman, 25, was killed on August 14 while ordering at a Taco Bell drive-in in Stow, Ohio (Stow Police Station)

Film told reporters on Thursday that there is currently no known connection between Williams and Keleman.

“As police chief and community leader, I want to say this is a true tragedy. Not only have the Kelemans lost a daughter, but we as a community have lost one of our daughters,” he said Thursday.

Police found that Keleman had called her father in her final moments, presumably after Williams rammed her car.

Investigators have not yet determined a motive for the attack, and Film said they “may never know why” Williams killed the graduate.

Jason Williams, 53, shot Megan Keleman and then turned the gun on himself, police said
Jason Williams, 53, shot Megan Keleman and then turned the gun on himself, police said (Stow Police Station)

Williams was charged on April 14 with improper handling of firearms in a car and driving his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to the New York PostHe was eventually released in May on $5,000 bail and ordered not to possess firearms, according to WOIO.

Keleman's family issued a statement after her death, saying the loss of their daughter was “incredibly painful.”

“We appreciate the community's support and hope our desire for privacy will be respected so we can continue to focus on supporting each other during this difficult time,” the family said in a statement.

Keleman was active on her campus and was previously editor-in-chief of the CSU student newspaper The boiler.

CSU Chairwoman Laura Bloomberg issued a statement following the news of Keleman’s death.

“We extend our deepest condolences to Megan's family, friends and loved ones. We have lost a caring, dedicated and optimistic member of the CSU community,” she said.

In the United States, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1 800 273 8255 or Online chat for help.