Michigan bowling coach identified as shooter in suspected murder-suicide involving teen, sheriff says
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said that one of the people who died in a suspected murder-suicide over the weekend was a Bedford school bowling coach.
The sheriff's office provided an update on Wednesday, identifying the shooter as 33-year-old Ryne Jacob Leist, of Temperance. Authorities allege that on June 14, Leist shot and killed recent Bedford graduate Gwendolyn Fay Smith, 17, of Temperance, before shooting himself. Sheriff Troy Goonough said Leist "made entry" into the home before shooting the teen multiple times.
The two were found dead by Smith's stepfather in the home. The Lucas County Coroner's Office ruled Smith's death a homicide and Leist's death a suicide.
"The details on their relationship are not clear at this time, although it is believed that Gwendolyn did not consider the relation between the two of them to be romantic," said Goonough in a press conference.
Goodnough said it was rumored that Leist was employed by Bedford Public Schools as a coach. On Wednesday, he said further investigation found that Leist was paid through the bowling establishment, Forest Few Lanes, and not the school district. Goodnough said the investigation showed Leist resigned from his role before the shooting.
The investigation is ongoing.
Goodnough said the shooting is not related to the incident on Tuesday in Raisinville Township. Two teens, both age 16, were found shot to death outside a vehicle. The sheriff says the manner of death in that case is pending a report from the coroner's office.
