On Monday, James D. Howard entered Downs Bait and Guns and tried to purchase a firearm and ammunition, but was denied. Howard was later arrested.
A Logan business owner prevented the sale of a gun to a former Ohio University student who had allegedly assaulted an employee at Bird Arena Monday.
After James D. Howard entered Downs Bait and Guns and tried to purchase a firearm and ammunition Monday, the owner of the store denied his request, Hocking County Sheriff Lanny North said.
North said after Howard filled out his Federal Firearms License, the store owner felt that "something wasn't right about the person," so he refused to sell the weapon and ammunition. Howard then "became pretty irate" and left the store, North said.
Though North said Howard's motive may have been to commit a shooting on campus, Ohio University Police Department Chief Andrew Powers cautioned that it's hard to tell what Howard's intentions were.
“At this point, we’re not exactly sure what was going on in his head,” Powers said. “If you look at the facts, you could draw several conclusions about what he meant to do.”
Howard, a student who previously played for OU's men's hockey team, allegedly assaulted an OU employee at Bird Arena earlier on Monday. Howard later withdrew from classes at the university, according to a previous Post report.
The OUPD charged Howard with one count each of burglary and weapons under disability.
Charles Hopkins, an employee of Downs Bait and Guns in Logan, wasn’t working on Monday but said the owner of the store, John Downs, did the right thing and was doing his job.
“(Howard) came in to buy a gun and was acting strange and was talking about doing some kinda weird things," Hopkins said. "(Downs) just thought something was up, so he didn’t let him buy the gun. (Howard asked) about the gun and where he could go to hide out for a while and where he could leave his car to be found.”
Later that day, Howard returned to the store, but when Downs saw him approaching, he closed the store, locked the doors and would not allow Howard inside, North said. Downs then contacted the Hocking County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's Office personnel found Howard's car in the parking lot at the Wal-Mart in Logan with the assistance of the Logan Police Department. Law enforcement officers found a rifle inside his car and later found Howard inside the Wal-Mart.
Howard was taken into custody and transported to the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail.
North said Downs “should be commended for his actions” because he was alert and responsive enough to notify law enforcement and not sell Howard a weapon.
Howard appeared in Athens Municipal Court for an arraignment Tuesday, and the judge in the case ordered no contact with OU, the gun store and the Wal-Mart, according to a previous Post report. A no contact order means the defendant isn’t allowed to have any contact with the victim or the people under the protection of the order, according to the law website HG.org.
Howard has a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 29 at 2 p.m. at the Athens Municipal Court.
Burglary is a second-degree felony and weapons under disability is a third-degree felony.
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The burglary charges come from Howard’s alleged assault of the staff member, and the weapons under disability charge results from his possession of a firearm after a previous involuntary admission to a mental health facility. The charges carry a total maximum penalty of 13 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
—Madeleine Peck and Bailey Gallion contributed to this report
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