Father arrested in connection with fatal shooting of 7-year-old in Ohio motel

A father is one of two people arrested in connection with the shooting that killed a 7-year-old boy in Ohio on Friday morning.

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According to a sheriff’s office spokesman, Stark County Sheriff’s officers responded to initial reports of a shooting at the Knights Inn Motel in Plain Township at 1 a.m.

Officers found a seven-year-old boy who had been shot and administered first aid. Paramedics took the child to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

William Dolch, 37, the child’s biological father, was charged with possession of a firearm while reckless, tampering with evidence, endangering children and involuntary manslaughter, the sheriff’s office said.

US Marshalls arrested him on Friday.

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In addition, 29-year-old Brittany Franko was charged with aiding and abetting negligent homicide, endangering children and obstructing official business, the sheriff’s office said.

“This was a tragic incident that impacted the entire community,” said Stark County Sheriff George T. Maier. “I commend our sheriff’s deputies, the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force marshals and other community partners for working together to quickly identify and charge those responsible.”

The shooting remains under investigation.