WQIO Ohio's Super Station
NEWARK, OHIO – Newark Division of Police Detectives have made an arrest of a 17-year-old
male, for shooting of a 60-year-old female at 71 North Morris Street, in Newark on Monday
afternoon.
Newark Police Officers were called to 71 North Morris Street on Monday, June
12th, 2023 at approximately 1:40pm on a report of a shooting. Officers arrived at the scene and
located 60-year-old, Mary Rutherford, with gunshot wounds to her legs. Officers provided aid
and tourniquets until Newark Medics arrived on scene.
At the time of dispatch, area law enforcement officers were immediately provided
descriptions of two vehicles which fled the scene. Both vehicles would be located by Licking
County Sheriff’s Deputies who were in the area. The 17-year-old suspect, along with a rifle,
were discovered in one of the vehicles. The rifle is believed to be the weapon used in the
shooting. In addition to the 17-year-old suspect, several other juveniles were detained and
questioned by detectives. During the interviews of all persons involved, the 17-year-old suspect
was identified as the shooter. Investigators learned that the suspect had gone to the victim’s
residence to confront another teenager about a PlayStation 4 and a pair of shoes.
The 60-year-old victim of the shooting was taken to Mount Carmel Hospital in
Columbus, and later transferred to OSU Medical Center. The full extent of the victim’s injuries
is not known currently, but they are not believed to be life threatening.
Detectives will be presenting the case to the Licking County Prosecutor’s Office for a
charge of Attempted Murder. Anyone with information concerning this investigation is asked to
call the Newark Division of Police Detective Bureau at (740)670-7215.
