LANCASTER, OH – Kyle Varney, 26, of Lancaster, has been indicted on 18 felony charges, including aggravated murder, in connection with the deaths of two family members and the assault of a third, announced Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Fairfield County Prosecutor Kyle Witt.
A Fairfield County grand jury returned the indictment today, charging Varney with:
- 2 counts of aggravated murder (unclassified felony)
- 4 counts of murder (unclassified felony)
- 1 count of attempted aggravated murder (F1)
- 2 counts of attempted murder (F1)
- 6 counts of felonious assault (F2)
- 3 counts of improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation or in a school safety zone (F2)
All charges include firearms specifications.
The incident occurred on February 25th, when Lancaster police responded to a call about a disturbed man at a residence in the 1200 block of North Broad Street. Upon arrival, officers encountered Varney in the front yard, armed with a shotgun. Varney reportedly fired at a woman leaving the home, prompting police to respond with deadly force. The woman survived her injuries, but officers discovered the bodies of two deceased men inside the residence.
The Lancaster Police Department requested the assistance of the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to investigate the events leading up to the officer-involved shooting. A separate BCI investigation into the officer-involved shooting is ongoing.
The Fairfield County Prosecutor’s Office will be handling the prosecution of the case.
It is important to note that an indictment is a formal accusation, and Varney is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
