Anthony Lee King, 43, died of multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Butler County Coroner’s Office.
At arraignment last week, Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael Oster Jr. ordered Combs held without bond.
On Monday, Combs was back in court for a pre-trial hearing with attorneys Wayne Staton and Chris Pagan. He waived his speedy trial rights and Pagan said he would be filing a written motion addressing bond.
After prosecutors responded, Oster indicated he would issue a formal ruling on bond by Dec. 1.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Combs is scheduled to be back in court Dec. 19 for a pre-trial hearing. He admitted to shooting and killing King in the yard of his Chapel Road residence, according to court documents.
According to sheriff’s office investigators, Combs admitted to shooting King “several times with a revolver.”
Video was also obtained, confirming statements by Combs and witnesses, the court documents say.
Combs was taken into custody after deputies were called for a shooting at 11:46 a.m. and found King dead outside, according to the sheriff’s office.
Family members called 911 after hearing shots and finding King in the backyard unresponsive and bleeding. A family member told the dispatcher a neighbor had confronted King before about perceived political affiliation.
“My neighbor just shot my dad,” a male tells dispatchers.
The suspect, “just walked back onto his property,” he tells the dispatcher.
According to the son, the neighbor “has come over multiple times making statements. He’s insane.”
The caller’s mother was sobbing in the background, and the dispatcher told them to stay inside and keep the doors locked.
The victim’s wife then told the dispatcher they were cutting grass and working in the yard when she came inside to let the dog out. That’s when she heard gunshots, she said.
“I look in the backyard and that man is walking away from my husband, and my husband is on the ground,” the woman said. “He has come over like four times confronting my husband because he thought he was a Democrat. Why, why … Please, I don’t understand.”
Combs was taken into custody in a Jeep on Ohio 126, west of Chapel Road. Both Combs and his father were in the vehicle.
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