Immediate Press Release
Contact- Colleen M. O’Toole
216/509-5433
IN RE: SHOOTING INCIDENT IN GENEVA ON JULY 9, 2023
On August 23, 2023, The Ashtabula County Prosecutor’s Office presented a case involving the shooting that resulted in the death of Matthew Lambert in Geneva, Ohio on July 9, 2023 to the Ashtabula County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury declined to indict the accused suspect. The Prosecutor presented the case for indictment for Murder, and in the alternative Voluntary Manslaughter, The Grand Jury returned a No Bill for the case.
We stand behind the Grand Jury’s decision in this matter. The Grand Jury was presented with all the witness statements, photos, videos from the scene, and follow-up interviews, including investigator findings. The evidence revealed a self-defense claim for the accused. Self-defense is an absolute defense to a charge for Murder.
Additionally, under the stand-your-ground law, as long as the person was lawfully allowed to be there, there is no duty to retreat in Ohio. All the relevant evidence revealed that the accused acted out of fear.
The Grand Jury did return an actual bill on the victim’s father for aggravated menacing, a misdemeanor that will be transferred to Western County Court.
