STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — An Ohio judge was shot Monday morning by the father of a high school football player previously convicted of rape.
Jefferson County Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. was shot as he was walking outside of the courthouse. Bruzzese and a probation officer returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect.
According to authorities, the suspect, Nathaniel Richmond, is the father of Ma’Lik Richmond, a former Steubenville High School football player who served 10 months in juvenile lockup in 2013 after being covicted of raping a 16-year-old Weirston, West Virginia girl at a party. A second football player was also convicted.
Ma’Lik Richmond is now part of the Youngstown State Football team, though he is not allowed to play any games.
Jefferson County prosecuting attorney Jane Hanlin told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette authorities do not see a connection between the shooting at the 2013 case.
Bruzzese was taken to a Pittsburgh-area hospital.