1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,559 Speaker 1: Crime Alart hourly update breaking crime news Now. 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:04,560 Speaker 2: I'm Nicole Parton. 3 00:00:04,640 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: In Michigan, authorities report that a bowling coach has fatally 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: shot a seventeen year old girl, a member of her 5 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: high school bowling team. According to Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnow, 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: thirty three year old Ryan Least shot Gwynn Smith at 7 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 1: her stepfather's home on Saturday. The sheriff indicated that Least 8 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: gained access to the home and fired multiple shots at 9 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: the teenager before turning the gun on himself. Investigators are 10 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,319 Speaker 1: currently working to determine how Least was able to enter 11 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:38,640 Speaker 1: the house. Smith had recently graduated from Bedford High School 12 00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: and was part of the club bowling team that Least coached, 13 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 1: the sheriff noted. On Tuesday, the Sheriff's office clarified that 14 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: Least was not an official coach for Bedford Public Schools, 15 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: which led to some confusion. However, on Wednesday, Sheriff Goodnow 16 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: explained that Least was indeed a bowling coach for the club, 17 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: but was not an employee of the school district. He 18 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: added that a photo of Least with the bowling team 19 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: appeared in the twenty twenty four yearbook. 20 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 3: I would like to start by saying it has been 21 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 3: a difficult four and a half days. The photograph did 22 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 3: appear of him with the bowling team in the twenty 23 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 3: four to twenty five yearbook. The details of the relationship 24 00:01:21,440 --> 00:01:25,600 Speaker 3: are not clear at this time, although it was believed 25 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 3: that Gwenlyn did not consider the relation between the two 26 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 3: of them to be romantic. Trust us that we're going 27 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 3: to do the right thing. 28 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: Least was compensated through Forestview Lanes, the bowling alley where 29 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: he worked previously. At the time of the tragic incident, 30 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: he was no longer employed there. Officials could not provide 31 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: specific details about when he left or the reason for 32 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: his departure, but they suggested he had resigned shortly before 33 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: the shooting. Sheriff good Now stated that there is no 34 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: evidence to suggest that Smith and Least had a romantic relationship, 35 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: and Smith did not view Least as a romantic interest. 36 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: The motive for the shooting remains unclear. Just five days 37 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: prior to the incident, good Now mentioned that there was 38 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: communication between Least and Smith, though he did not provide 39 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: any further details. It is also not known how long 40 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 1: the two had known each other. The investigation is ongoing. 41 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: The sheriff indicated that the leadership at Bedford Local Schools 42 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 1: has activated their crisis management team to help support students 43 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 1: who were close to Smith. 44 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 2: Or who may need assistance. 45 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:32,079 Speaker 1: Good Now emphasize that any community member can reach out 46 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 1: to the Central Dispatch to access those resources. Additionally, the 47 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 1: sheriff stated that this murder suicide is unrelated to a 48 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: case of two other teenagers found dead from gunshot wounds 49 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:47,919 Speaker 1: in the same area or Crime and Justice News. After this, 50 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: the tragic deaths of an engaged couple found in a 51 00:02:56,080 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: Georgia lake have been attributed to accidental drownings. Joscelyn Nicole 52 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: Wilson and Gary Jones were discovered missing after their boat 53 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: was located unattended on Lake Oconey on February eighth. While 54 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: Wilson's body was discovered the next day, Jones' remains were 55 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: not found until March nine. As reported by CBS News, 56 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: Putman County Sheriff Howard Seals confirmed that the medical examiner's 57 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: report classified their deaths as accidental drowning and the investigation 58 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:28,799 Speaker 1: into the case has been closed. At the time of 59 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: the incident, the couple was celebrating Jones's fiftieth birthday. Sheriff 60 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: Siles noted that Wilson, a forty nine year old educator 61 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: at Spelman College, and Jones, a track and field coach 62 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: at a local private school, had checked into a nearby 63 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 1: hotel for the occasion. A childhood friend of Wilson revealed 64 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: to CBS that the couple had rekindled their relationship after 65 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: attending Clark Atlanta University together and had recently became engaged. 66 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 1: The couple's twelve foot boat was reported to be circling 67 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: near Wallace Dam and was spot by fellow boters, who 68 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: later discovered that they had struck a dock. Additionally, Joan's 69 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: shoes were found floating about fifteen feet apart along from 70 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: the shore on February ten, just six days prior to 71 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 1: the recovery of Joan's body. The sheriff commented on the 72 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 1: extensive search effort, stating on the Putnam County Sheriff's Office page, 73 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: I cannot recall such a comprehensive deployment of government and 74 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:29,039 Speaker 1: civilian resources ever for a situation like this on Lake Ulcone. 75 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:33,359 Speaker 1: He expressed his heartfelt thanks to everyone who participated in 76 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 1: the search. The sheriff concluded by acknowledging the support from 77 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: the community, saying, I also wish to convey my gratitude 78 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 1: to the numerous individuals and businesses who generously provided food 79 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 1: and drinks while we continued the search efforts. And now 80 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:50,960 Speaker 1: there is closure for the family. And finally, here's a 81 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: story with an unusual plot twist. A drug dealer stole 82 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: an eight hundred pound cannon that canon was used in 83 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: the Spanish American War. He stole it from a in Kansas, 84 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 1: trying to settle a debt to his boss, who he 85 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: said had threatened to kill him and his family. Thirty 86 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: eight year old Gordon Pierce was arrested after the seventeen 87 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: ninety four cannon went missing from its podium in Wichitap Park. 88 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 1: It was later found to be chopped into pieces. Pierce 89 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: told police that he was a meth user for about 90 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: twenty years and that he owed his dealer twenty thousand 91 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: dollars after a pound of meth he was supposed. 92 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 2: To steal reportedly was stolen. 93 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: He said his dealer threatened to shoot him and his 94 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 1: family if he didn't come up with the cash to 95 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: pay off the debt, so he went looking for cash, 96 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:38,080 Speaker 1: and the distressed drug user said he planned to sell 97 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 1: copper to make some money. He told police that he 98 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: allegedly hatched the crackpot plan to steal the cannon. After 99 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,719 Speaker 1: driving around in desperation looking for copper statues, he came 100 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: across Riverside Park, where this massive artifact had been a 101 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: fixture since nineteen hundred. He told police that the reason 102 00:05:56,120 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 1: he targeted the cannon was because it was in a 103 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: dark place. Pierce then he recruited the help of a 104 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 1: homeless man. He bribed him with a pipe and drugs. 105 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:04,920 Speaker 2: He said. 106 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: The two men got high on meth before trying to 107 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 1: use their muscles to lift the eight hundred pound cannon 108 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: into the back of his truck. He said it was 109 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 1: too heavy, so next they hooked up a chain attached 110 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,479 Speaker 1: it to the truck's hitch so the criminal mastermind could 111 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 1: toe the cannon away, except when he began dragging it 112 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,359 Speaker 1: through the city streets, the chain snapped in front of 113 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: an automotive shop. He said he abandoned the cannon there 114 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,400 Speaker 1: and fled to a friend's house to get a new chain. 115 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 1: Pierce used the new chain to drag it to a 116 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:36,279 Speaker 1: friend's house, where he hid the cannon in the garage, 117 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 1: he said. Inside the garage, he allegedly chopped the cannon 118 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: into five big chunks and took some of that to 119 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 1: the drug dealer's house in hopes that would settle the debt. 120 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 2: But the drug dealer was mad, he said. 121 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 1: According to the police report, he called him stupid and 122 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: told him he was going to bring heat to his 123 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 1: house before yelling get out. Since he didn't have an 124 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,720 Speaker 1: ID that was required to sell scrap metal, Pierce had 125 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:04,279 Speaker 1: no real plan for pawning his eight hundred pound historical cannon. 126 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,359 Speaker 1: The next time he saw him, the furious drug dealer 127 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: allegedly told Pierce he was going to shoot him in 128 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: the head because he hadn't paid his debt. Terrified, Pierce 129 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: did what all good criminals do. He went to his 130 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: mom's house, He confessed to her, and fell asleep. When 131 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: he woke up, cops were there, and they arrested him. 132 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: The swift investigation shows the dedication and commitment to the 133 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: police to solve the crime. Officials from Whichita's Parks and 134 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,120 Speaker 1: Recreation estimated the canon is worth more than one hundred 135 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:38,120 Speaker 1: thousand dollars and pierced caused ten thousand dollars worth of 136 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:42,640 Speaker 1: damage to the granite pedestal during his shall we say 137 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: crackpot idea. Pierce is being held on a two hundred 138 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: thousand dollars bond, his debt still unpaid. For the latest 139 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: crime injustice news. Follow Crime Alert hourly update on your 140 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: favorite podcasting app with this crime Alert. 141 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 2: I'm Nico Parton.