"Somebody's Been Murdered"

"ST. LOUISVILLE, OH — The suspect in a St. Louisville homicide investigation remains in critical condition at Grant Medical Center this afternoon after shooting his girlfriend and turning the gun on himself, said Licking County Sheriff Randy Thorp.

"Phillip Mascari, 43, last known address 1450 Striebel Road, Columbus, reportedly shot his girlfriend, Katherine Russ, 37, to death at her residence, 419 S. Main St., St. Louisville, Monday night, Thorp said.

"Mascari called several people, including his ex-wife who contacted authorities, to report he had shot his girlfriend, Thorp said. Relatives told detectives that Mascari and Russ had a history of domestic issues, he added.

"`My ex-husband just called me and said he had killed his girlfriend,` she told a 911 operator. She also told the sheriff's office that Mascari was on the run and threatened to harm himself, according to the 911 tape.

"`Somebody's been murdered,` she said.

"The Licking County Sheriff's Office, St. Louisville police and Newton Township Fire Department were dispatched to the St. Louisville home at 7:03 p.m. Monday.

"Mascari drove away in a 2008 Grand Prix and deputies found him at a remote area on Van Fossen Road west of Ohio 657 at 3:49 a.m. Tuesday, according to a Licking County Sheriff's Office news release.

"As deputies closed in, Mascari exited the vehicle and shot himself in the head, Thorp said. His injury was serious and life-threatening, according to the news release.

"No gunfire was exchanged between Mascari and deputies, according to the news release. A Grant Medical Center spokeswoman said Mascari was in critical condition Tuesday morning.

"Mascari was convicted of criminal trespassing in August 2007, aggravated menacing in June 2007 and using a weapon while intoxivated in January 2002, according to Franklin County Municipal Court records."

Source: Newark Advocate...