$20 Million Bail Set for Suspect in Ohio Warehouse Shooting That Left 2 Dead and 4 Injured

NEW ALBANY, Ohio—A warehouse employee disclosed in a distressed 911 call that he had been shot in the neck and then wrestled the firearm from a co-worker after he had opened fire on several individuals. The incident resulted in two fatalities and four injuries, with workers fleeing the scene in panic.

The motive behind the Tuesday night shooting at the New Albany warehouse, located approximately 15 miles northeast of downtown Columbus, remains unclear. The suspect, Bruce Reginald Foster III, age 28, made his first court appearance on Thursday, during which his bond was set at $20 million. He is inquiring about obtaining a court-appointed attorney, and a preliminary hearing is slated for the following week.

The Franklin County Coroner’s Office reported on Thursday that one of the victims, identified as Shakhar Chapagai, 30, succumbed to his injuries Wednesday evening at Mount Carmel East, a hospital in Columbus. The second victim, 38-year-old Kyle Vaver from Pickerington, was pronounced dead at the scene on Tuesday, according to the Licking County Coroner’s Office.

Details regarding the conditions of the injured individuals have yet to be made public.

In the 911 calls, workers indicated that some of the victims were shot in the production area. The individual who claimed to have taken the firearm reported that he handed it over to a supervisor.

New Albany Police Chief Greg Jones stated on Wednesday that Foster has spoken with investigators but noted, “I wouldn’t call him fully cooperative,” Jones commented.

During the court appearance on Thursday, Foster’s attorney, Hailey Doliveira, mentioned in a phone interview that she was present solely for the bond hearing and did not meet with Foster, preventing her from commenting on his stance regarding the allegations. Attempts to reach Foster or a relative via two phone numbers were unsuccessful on Wednesday.

According to police, Foster was about to leave the scene in a rideshare vehicle when they arrived at the New Albany industrial park on Tuesday night. Officers, alongside drones and a police dog, conducted a thorough search of the area.

“It appears that there may have been some interaction between a victim and the shooter,” Jones stated. “At this time, I cannot provide a clear understanding of the extent of that interaction.”

Foster was located and arrested in a Columbus apartment on Wednesday morning. Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Dan Deville indicated that a stun gun was necessary to subdue Foster, who had refused to surrender.

The shooting took place in a warehouse belonging to a company that produces a range of goods, including cosmetics and toiletries. About 150 employees were evacuated to a nearby facility.

“No one reported any conflicts or issues that would suggest he was facing trouble at work,” Jones concluded.