Neighbors shocked by NE Ohio man’s genocide charges, say he’s been caring and helpful
***Warning: Details in this story are disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.***
UNIONTOWN, Ohio (WJW) – From an alleged mass killer to a successful engineer, father and mentor. We are learning more about the Northeast Ohio man accused of taking part in mass ethnic genocide in Rwanda in the 1990s.
Eric Tabaro Nshimiye, 52, from Uniontown, was arrested Thursday, accused of the brutal murder of women and children during the genocide in Rwanda decades ago.
In Ohio, people describe him as caring and helpful, but federal prosecutors say he committed horrific crimes against humanity.
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800,000 people were killed in one of the worst genocides in modern history.
In 1994, members of the Hutu majority viciously slaughtered members of the minority Tutsis in the African nation of Rwanda.
In a 22-page criminal affidavit, federal prosecutors allege that Nshimiye not only participated in, but was “directly involved in the murder of Tutsis, including women and children.” He was 22 years old at the time.
The affidavit includes photos of some of the brutal weapons he allegedly used.
It also includes photos of people pointing out locations where Nshimiye allegedly committed his atrocities.
It goes on to state Nshimiye killed a young woman by striking her in the head with a nail-studded club, and then hacking her to death.
Thursday night, FOX 8 stopped by Nshimiye’s home in Uniontown in Stark County, where neighbors were shocked by the allegations.
“I have a hard time believing he would be there doing that, just from what I know of him,” said one of his neighbors.
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Prosecutors say in 1995 Nshimiye lied when seeking asylum in the U.S.
He was naturalized as a United States citizen in April of 2003.
Since moving to Northeast Ohio, Nshimiye appeared to be a model citizen. He raised a family, did volunteer work, became a mentor and an electrical engineer at Goodyear in Akron.
In a statement, the tire and rubber company told FOX 8:
“Goodyear is deeply troubled to learn of the recent charges brought against one of our associates and is fully cooperating with authorities.”
In a separate statement, the volunteer mentoring organization MentorStark says:
“Eric Nshimiye joined MentorStark Opportunity Club in 2021 as a volunteer mentor to be a classroom speaker from his perspective as a University of Dayton graduate, principal electrical engineer and part of the college recruiting team at Goodyear Tire and Rubber, and also from his reported experience as being a Rwanda refugee… MentorStark condemns the acts reflected in the charges and, like everyone, will await the results of the Justice Department’s legal proceedings. Our thoughts and concerns are with the victims still recovering from these atrocities.”
Nshimiye will be moved to Boston to face charges of perjury, obstruction of justice and falsifying, concealing, and covering up a material fact by trick, scheme or device.
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