Ohio gun shop owner shot dead by student in class

AMELIA, Ohio — Authorities say the owner of an Ohio gun shop teaching a concealed carry class was fatally shot in the neck by a student who accidentally fired a weapon.

The (Cincinnati) Enquirer reports 64-year-old James Baker was shot Saturday while students practiced weapon malfunction drills. The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office says about 10 people were taking the class at the time at KayJay Gun Shop in Monroe Township, about 25 miles southeast of Cincinnati.

“I seen like 15 sheriff’s cars come, two ambulances, and I was waiting on the helicopter to come pick him up you know, but it didn’t,” neighbour Anita Fritz told WLWT. “They put yellow tape around and I knew he was dead.”

Baker died at the scene. The student who fired the weapon hasn’t been identified.

“Sheriff’s and the cops come in and out all the time cause they loved him,” Fritz said. “All the neighbors did. So it’s a tragic thing that happened.”

According to the gun shop’s website, the concealed carry class included basic pistol safety instruction, shooting range sessions and a review of Ohio’s gun laws.

The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting.