A man singing karaoke at an Ohio bar was shot in the back of the head and killed by his girlfriend’s ex-husband, according to police.
Richard Lindgren, 59, is accused of murder in the death of 42-year-old Benjamin Hawk, according to a press release from the Licking County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to a shooting report shortly before midnight on July 11 at Louie’s Corner House in Buckeye Lake. Hawk was found dead from a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
According to the criminal complaint obtained by Law&Crime, Hawk and his girlfriend were singing karaoke on the outdoor patio when Lindgren approached them “from behind, pulled out a small handgun, and shot [Hawk] in the back of the head.” Several bar patrons witnessed the shooting, called 911, and chased Lindgren, according to the affidavit.
Lindgren hopped in his car and drove away. Police issued a nationwide alert for Lindgren and his car. Lindgren was spotted on traffic cameras in Orangeburg, South Carolina, about 550 miles away, on July 12. They pulled him over and took him into custody. He is awaiting extradition back to Ohio.
Debbie Williamson, the bar’s owner, told The Columbus Dispatch that she was sitting in the beer garden of the establishment when she heard a loud noise. She initially thought it was a firecracker, but when she noticed patrons chasing Lindgren, she realized it was a gunshot.
According to Williamson, Hawk “got like three words out” of the song he was singing at the time of his shooting. Nothing like this has ever happened at the bar, which has been in her family for half a century.
“It was very traumatizing,” she told The Dispatch.
Those who knew Hawk remember him fondly. Hawk leaves two children, according to his brother, who posted on GoFundMe. He was also known as a skilled karaoke performer.
“My brother was loved by many and never met a stranger; he had the ability to converse with any and everyone,” according to the message. “He always looked out for those around him and would give his very last to someone in need, even if it meant he had to go without.”
