Canton man shot to death inside Massillon movie theater; suspect in custody
MASSILLON – A 20-year-old Jackson Township man is accused of shooting and killing a 27-year-old Canton man and shooting and injuring a woman Friday night inside the Regal Massillon movie theater, city police said.
Police responded to the scene at 175 Cherry Road NW after the shooting was reported before 11 p.m. and found the deceased victim, identified as Daron Davis, near the front lobby, police said.
Officers also found a female shooting victim with serious gunshot injuries.
The Massillon Fire Department said it transported one person by ambulance from the theater to the hospital. It's not clear if her injuries were life threatening.
Corvon C. Thomas of Wales Avenue NW turned himself in at the Massillon police station and was arrested at 11:40 p.m., according to an arrest report. He faces felony charges of murder and felonious assault. Police booked Thomas into the Stark County Jail early Saturday morning.
Thomas' arrest report accuses him of shooting Davis multiple times and the female victim, who police have not identified, at least once with a handgun. Authorities didn't release a motive for the shooting.
A message seeking comment was left for Police Chief Jason Saintenoy on Saturday.
A Stark County coroner's investigator pronounced Davis dead around 11:48 p.m. She found his body on the side of the lobby close to an entrance of one of the theaters.
It's not clear if Davis or Thomas had been watching a movie there.
The investigator said Davis' mother appeared at the scene. It's not clear if the mother was there when Davis was killed.
Massillon police and agents of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation collected evidence at the scene for hours. Davis' body was transported early Saturday to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy, the Stark County Coroner's Office said. Investigators have been reviewing surveillance video from the movie theater.
The theater canceled all showings for Saturday.
A note on the Regal website for the location said, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, all showtimes have been canceled and this location is currently closed. For all advance tickets sold, refunds can be requested at customersupport@regalcinemas.com."
Mayor Jamie Slutz's office issued a statement Saturday afternoon about the shooting.
"In times like these, words often seem inadequate to express the profound sorrow and grief for that young man's family and friends, as well as the patrons of Regal Cinemas that evening," the mayor's office said. "This is a collective experience that will affect many people and families. We must come together as a community to support one another through this challenging time."
The Stark County Critical Incident Management Team will provide assistance to anyone needing support at the Massillon Health Department from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday at 611 Erie St. S. Anyone needing immediate assistance can call 330-452-6000 or text 988.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Daron Davis shot to death inside Regal Massillon movie theater
