[Atticus]

Zane Wilson, owner of Zane's Gun Rack was found murdered in in his store today. He was 79 years old, a WWII vet, and had run the store since the 50's. His store was more like a museum/ depot of guns and memorabilia than anything else. You could hardly walk in there, it was so packed full of stuff.... but it was always a wonderland for those who appreciate such things. He will be missed. I've muttered a lot of curses tonight...all I can say now is ...DAMN them.

[J Jones]

Any news on what they stole, since I'm doubting this was just a thrill kill?

[Ala Dan]

:( I didn't know the gentleman, but I would like
to pass on my sympathy and condolences to
his family and friends. Sad news indeed!

Respectfully,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[Sarge]

I lost a good friend and his wife to a senseless robbery like this back in the 70's. Old Dale shot the hell out of his attackers as he was going down, but it was too late for him & his missus just the same.

The boys were caught- juveniles.

[Atticus]

No details available yet. A customer walked in and found him. Zane's wife was upstairs at the time (they lived above the store). Don't think she heard anything ...but I don't know. You'd have to of seen Zane's place to appreciate this...but a hundred guns could have been stolen, and barely noticed, if at all. He usually had two Dobermans in the store with him...but unless he'd gotten new ones, they were about as old as he was (in doggie years). This was a senseless and utterly contemptable act.

[Atticus]

Update: Zane managed to shoot one of them...leading to the arrest of all three of the dis-advantaged youts. RIP Zane.

3 rd man charged in gun-store slaying
Clintonville shop owner shot, injured attacker, police say
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Jodi Nirode
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

TOM DODGE | DISPATCH
Jamel Curtis, left, is arraigned in the slaying of Clintonville gun-shop owner Zane Wilson. Curtis’ bond was set Tuesday at $750,000.

Clifford Morefield, left, and Robert A. Oliver are charged in the death of a merchant who police said shot Morefield during the attack.

A third man has been charged in connection with the slaying of a Clintonville gun-store owner, who police said for the first time yesterday managed to wound one of the suspects.

Robert A. Oliver, 18, of 2279 Holt Rd. on the Far West Side, was being held in the Franklin County jail on a charge of complicity to commit aggravated murder. Columbus police said he was the getaway driver for two gunmen accused in the shooting death of Zane Wilson.

Wilson was shot and killed Friday in his store, Zanes Gun Rack, 4167 N. High St.

Earlier this week, police arrested Clifford Morefield, 18, of 1920 Gennessee Ave. and Jamel Curtis, 21, of 2271 Webster Canyon Court and charged each with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery in the slaying.

Yesterday, police said Wilson, a gunner’s mate on a battleship during World War II, had returned fire and hit Morefield in the shoulder.

Witnesses saw Morefield carrying several rifles out of the store, police said in court.

Morefield went to Riverside Methodist Hospital, police said, where he was treated for a bullet wound and which tipped police off to his whereabouts.

Nick Sardis, a longtime friend of Wilson’s who lives on the East Side, said he was pleased that Wilson was able to shoot one of his assailants.

"Zane’s a hero for what he did," Sardis said. "The poor soul, he’s in heaven."

Tuesday, police searched a home at 2011 Denune Ave. on the North Side, where they found the rest of the guns taken from Wilson’s store.

It is one of at least five searches homicide detectives have done as part of the investigation. The warrants were sealed, and police have declined to talk about what else they’ve found.


Dispatch reporter Alayna De - Martini contributed to this story .



jnirode@dispatch.com

[Lennyjoe]

Good to see that they apprehended the culprits.

May they rott in jail.

Sympathies to Mr. Wilsons family.

[foghornl]

Didn't hear a peep about this in Cleveland, but the city's media is so far left, it is unreal.

R.I.P. Mr. Wilson. You earned your rest the hard way. Condolences to all.

[BluesBear]

Do they have the death penelty in Ohio?

If so, what method do they use?

Where do I apply for the executioners job?

[RustyHammer]

Our society is weaker today
after the loss of another piece
of our living history.


/Rusty

[geekWithA.45]

Rest in Peace.

There aren't enough good men that we have any spares, and each loss is a catastrophe.

[Atticus]

"3 questions
Do they have the death penelty in Ohio?

If so, what method do they use?

Where do I apply for the executioners job?"



1) Yes...but rarely used. These guys will not likely face the death penalty.
If they do, they'll probably be Zane's age when it happens.

2) Lethal injection...and ol sparky is still an option...I think.

3) You'll have to wait in line for this one.

[Nathanael_Greene]

Well put, RustyHammer. In addition to the family's loss, and the community's, loss, our whole society loses.

[Red Neck64]

That was sad news about Mr Zane.But the cops did get the scum who killed him.Now all we can hope for,is the hanging.

[Kentucky Rifle]

A good man is shot, killed, and robbed.
The DEATH PENALTY is "hardly used" anymore. I really think that in a vicious crime such as this, there should be no needles. "Ol' Sparky" should DEFINITELY be the penalty for crimes like this. What troubles me is the defense/excuse that seems to work so well in court. "These were ONLY disadvantaged and misguided youths". Then, like magic, they get a prison term and are let back loose on society, "rehabilitated", a few years later. I lost my best friend to one of these "rehabilitated" criminals.

KR

[Blackcloud6]

This is truely sad. I met Mr. Zane years ago when I stopped by his shop. He was avery friendly and a pleasure to talk to, His store was just fun to browse throgh. Guns stacked everywhere. You walked down corridors through the stacks. What a place. He will be surely missed.

[444]

They are only dis-advantaged youts when the liberals are using them for political gain. In cases like this, they have ALL the advantages.

[harpethriver]

Redneck64 wrote "the cops did get the scum who killed him". Don't you mean "allegedly killed him", after all they are innocent until proven guilty? And even if proven guilty it will be pointed out that they are merely unlucky in the game of life, the product of abusive, dysfunctional families. And their drug addction is an illness, they didn't choose to take drugs, they "caught an illness", so they shouldn't be held responsible for their actions. Should they actually be guilty and serve time they will then be placed in a confined setting with their peers for a specified period of time, during which they will will interact with those peers and thereby learn from each other how to commit more and better crimes upon their likely early release. Someone posted a thread earlier asking why gun owners were so pessimistic. This may not be be what he was referring to but stories like this tend to increase my level of pessimism.

[Frohickey]

Is there a fund set up for Zane's wife?

Also, is there a fund set up for the electricity bill for the 3 lowlifes?

:cuss:

[Atticus]

I last spoke to Zane in the Fall of 03. At that time, he told me that he was trying to get his inventory organized to facilitate a sell off when he passed. I hope he got it done. I suspect that Mrs. Wilson will be comfortable financially....a small blessing.