In 2003 and 2004, the citizens of Columbus, Ohio lived in fear or the "Highway Sniper." On November 25, 2003, one of the sniper’s shots struck and killed a woman traveling with her friend. The initial investigation into that murder uncovered numerous shots fired in the same area, from the same gun. Just a short time after the sniper shootings in Washington, D.C., the community in Columbus feared they were facing another serial shooter. The gunman was known to frequent the I-270 outer belt, a major highway and point of travel in Columbus, and people began altering their daily routines to avoid the area. The following articles detail the investigation of the case and the eventual trial of Charles McCoy. The FBI Agent and Sheriff’s Deputy from the investigation as well as the prosecutor, defense attorney, and judge from the case have all detailed their own experiences and insights from solving the I-270 sniper case.

Defending the I-270 Sniper

Michael Miller
Defense Attorney for Charles McCoy

The case of State of Ohio vs. Charles McCoy was fascinating, but one I felt was destined for an ending that would satisfy very few. In 2005, when the trial started, I had practiced law for 42 years and tried a lot of criminal cases, including more than 50 first-degree aggravated murder cases. The vast majority were tried while I was a prosecutor. The Charles McCoy case was different, very different, from all the others.

[click here to read this article]

Prosecution Ruminations on Trying a Highly Publicized Case

Within the Confines of Ohio's Insanity Law

Ron J. O'Brien
Franklin County Prosecutor

Most citizens in Central Ohio became fully aware of the I-270 sniper many months before he was identified and an arrest was made. On a weekly basis, potential jurors discussed the freeway sniper around the office water cooler or were warned by the media on the nightly news that the freeway sniper was still at large—and shooting—and reminded to be careful where they drove their car or family van.

[click here to read this article]

The I-270 Sniper Case: Views from the Bench

Charles A. Schneider
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge

I was asked to write a short article about my role in the case captioned State of Ohio v. Charles McCoy or what the central Ohio community came to know as the “Highway Shooter” case. Mr. McCoy was charged in a multiple count indictment including, among other crimes, aggravated murder for which the State was asking for the death penalty. The case was assigned to me during my first week at the Court of Common Pleas. Although I had been practicing law for over twenty-five years and a judge for eight of those years, I had just transferred from the Municipal Court (traffic and misdemeanor cases) to the Court of Common Pleas (the land of rapes, robberies and murders). The local newspaper commented something to the effect that “the rookie draws the “Highway Shooter”.

[click here to read this article]

The I-270 Shooting Case

Harry W. Trombitas,
Special Agent, FBI
&
Stephen L. Martin,
Chief Deputy, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office

Two women, life-long friends, were out for a great day of shopping and catching up. They were enjoying a beautiful morning together. It was approximately 9:58 am on Tuesday, November 25, 2003, when their lives would be changed forever.

As they drove along the south side of Columbus on I-270 eastbound, a loud “bang” rang out, startling both women. “What was that?” they both asked at the same moment. Mrs. Mary Cox was driving the Pontiac Grand Am at the time and searched frantically for the source of the noise. All of a sudden, her best friend, Mrs. Gail Knisley, slumped over in the front passenger seat. Mrs. Cox pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and did her best to keep her composure as she dialed ‘911.’ Help arrived within minutes, which seemed like hours, yet Mrs. Knisley died from a gunshot wound that nicked her aorta.

[click here to read this article]