SHOOTING INVESTIGATION

UPDATED RELEASE TO MARCH 13, 2025 RELEASE

DARKE COUNTY SHOOTING RULED A HOMICIDE

As a result of further investigation and information released by Darke County Coroner Dr. Susan Brown, Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker provides the following updated information to yesterday’s shooting incident.

The investigation and evidence supports that some time yesterday Josiah “Joe” Maloon, age 57, of 2535 State Route 571 Greenville, OH brutally beat and shot his wife, Juanita Maloon, age 53, of the same address. The Darke County Coroner’s Office has ruled Juanita’s death as a homicide due to a gunshot wound to the head.

At approximately 2:15 pm yesterday Randy Ward II, age 47, of Ansonia, OH arrived at 2535 State Route 571, at the request of Joe Maloon, for the purpose of a transaction. According to Randy Ward, when he pulled into the drive he obtained cash from Joe Maloon’s vehicle as instructed and that is when Joe Maloon exited his house and started shooting multiple rounds at him. Randy Ward ran to his vehicle to flee the scene and was shot several times. Randy Ward left the scene in his Dodge Challenger while being chased by Joe Maloon in a Nissan Pathfinder SUV. Joe Maloon was shooting at Randy Ward while chasing him and ramming him with his SUV. The vehicles crashed into opposite fields. Joe Maloon died at the scene as a result of his injuries from the crash. Randy Ward is still being treated for multiple gunshot wounds at Miami Valley Hospital.

A handgun was recovered near Joe Maloon at the crash scene and the firearm appears to be similar to the caliber believed to be used on his wife and Randy Ward, however, further forensic examination will be necessary to confirm this.

Firearm spent shell casings and a white powdery substance in packaging was located in the driveway of 2535 State Route 571 in the area where Randy Ward reported the shooting started. Forensic testing will be needed to identify and confirm these findings.

This investigation is still ongoing but the results thus far is what leads me to believe Joe Maloon was the primary threat in these cases and that threat no longer exists.

Contact: Sheriff Mark Whittaker

Phone: 937-548-2020

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Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker reports that his office is investigating a shooting incident that started at a residence in the 2500 block of State Route 571 west of Greenville, Ohio and ended with two vehicles crashing into a field in the 9600 block of Coletown-Lightsville Road.

On Thursday March 13, 2025 at 2:23 PM, the Darke County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a subject reporting he had been shot by a friend at a residence in the 2500 block of State Route 571.  The adult male victim reported he was being chased and shot at by the suspect in a vehicle while traveling north bound on Coletown-Lightsville Road.  Darke County Deputies and Union City Police Officers responded to the area for a shooting incident in progress.

The suspect rammed the victim’s vehicle multiple times eventually causing both vehicles to crash out into a field. The suspect rolled his SUV multiple times and was ejected from the vehicle. Union City Police Officers arrived on the scene soon after the crash and called for Union City Fire & EMS and Careflight to respond. The suspect was found unconscious and not breathing in the field. Union City Fire/EMS declared the adult male shooting suspect dead at the scene.

The victim who was being chased and shot was treated by Union City Fire & EMS at the scene and was transported by Careflight to Miami Valley Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. There were no other occupants in either vehicle during this incident.

Because of this call, deputies responded simultaneously to the suspect’s residence in the 2500 block of St RT 571 where the shooting incident started. Darke County deputies searched the residence and discovered an adult female deceased in the house. This case is being investigated as a homicide pending determination by the Darke County Coroner.

Darke County Deputies, Detectives and Darke County Coroner’s Investigator are actively investigating both scenes at the time of this release.  Preliminary information suggests that both scenes are related. While it is early in the investigation, we do not believe there is any further active threat to the public.  Follow up media releases will be provided as more information becomes available.  

Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker thanks the Union City Police Officers and Fire/EMS units who rapidly responded to assist the Darke County Deputies during a dangerous and rapidly evolving scene.  No other citizens were injured because of this incident.

Contact: Sheriff Mark Whittaker

Phone: 937-548-2020