AKRON, Ohio — An Akron mother of two young girls was killed when a bullet came through the front window of a home in Akron and struck her in the head while she was sitting on the couch on Monday, according to the Summit County Medical Examiner.
Police said the shot may have been fired from more than 1,000 feet away— and across Summit Lake— comparing the way 26-year-old Chelsey Jones died to astronomical odds.
Her boyfriend, Michael Hartney, spoke to News 5 and is in disbelief that the love of his life and a caring mother is gone due to a random act.
"How in the world could this happen? It's just one-in-a-million freak, senseless accident," Hartney said. "There are so many mixed emotions right now. I'm beyond angry and I'm just trying to keep my cool for my daughters. It's not going to do any good for them to see me upset and angry like that. Nothing good comes from that. So I'm just going to hug them and comfort them and just hope that they catch whoever did this."
EMS initially responded around 11:55 p.m. on the Fourth of July to a residence in the 1600 block of Summit Lake Boulevard for a medical call, but at that point, it wasn't clear that Jones had been shot.
It wasn't until doctors examined her at Cleveland Clinic Akron General that a bullet was discovered and police were notified of a crime scene.
Jones leaves behind two daughters, ages 6 and 3, both born on Feb. 12, exactly three years apart.
"She was a great mother. The best mother. She would do anything for those kids," said Hartney.
Fourth of July featured the typical fun many associate with the holiday. Hartney said they were watching fireworks outside until about 10:30 p.m. At one point, she made her way to the couch where she watched her shows and fell asleep. Hartney said around 11:30 p.m. he went to a bedroom and fell asleep for about an hour until he was awoken by a groaning noise.
He walked into the living room and found Jones lying on the floor in a pool of blood with a lump on her head.
"Police first started asking questions about if we had weapons in the house or if she was suicidal. And I'm like, 'Why are you asking about guns?' That's when they broke the news that it was a gunshot wound to the head."
Until the police told him, he didn't know a bullet went through the window. With the holiday, he had heard a lot of normal booming noises.
Hartney said Jones what a sweetheart— a kind, and caring person to everyone she met.
She worked as a phlebotomist in Stow and enjoyed camping, swimming in a quarry, photography and painting. Hartney said his girlfriend of five years also loved hula hooping and was fascinated by the phases of the moon.
"Just the most beautiful spirit I've ever met in my life. She was the love of my life," Hartney said. "The world's going to be a little darker without her. She shined a light on my whole life. I was not always doing the best stuff. And when I got with her, she really helped me just turn my life around for the better and just do good. I got a great job. We just supported each other."
Two 9mm casings were found on a boat dock near the Summit Lake Community Center, which is located about 1/4 of a mile across the lake from the home where Jones was shot.
Lt. Michael Miller said ballistics tests could eventually reveal if there is a match between the casings found on the dock and the bullet that killed Jones, but tracking down the person who pulled the trigger will be challenging.
"To narrow that down or to trace it back is going to be an extremely difficult task, one they're (detectives) committed to undertaking by the way, but it will be extremely difficult," Miller said.
Hartney hopes whoever is responsible comes forward. Summit County Crimestoppers is offering a reward up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment.
"Please come forward. I know it was probably an accident. I know it wasn't malicious, but they need to be held accountable for what they did," Hartney said. "They took away my girlfriend. They took away my soon-to-be fiancée. They took away two girl's mothers."
Tipsters can remain anonymous when calling 330-434-COPS.
Anyone with information can also contact the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490.
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