COLUMBUS, Ohio - DeShaune K. Stewart, 24, of Columbus, Ohio, was indicted by a federal grand jury today with two counts of murdering an officer of the United States Government.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division, Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs and Dublin Police Chief Heinz von Eckartsberg announced the charges.
According to the indictment, on Dec. 23, 2017, Stewart killed Ginger E. Ballard and Lance Herrera-Dempsey. Both victims were employees of the United States Postal Service and killed on account of their official duties.
Stewart was charged by federal criminal complaint on Dec. 27, 2017. The affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint details that on Dec. 23, at approximately 4:25am, Dublin Police were dispatched via a 911 call to the United States Post Office located at 6400 Emerald Parkway on reports of an active shooter.
When they arrived they found a male subject, Herrera-Dempsey, who was a Customer Services Supervisor with direct supervision duties over Stewart, deceased from two gunshot wounds.
At approximately 7:18am on the same day, Columbus Police Officers responded to Bowland Place North in Dublin.
Officers arrived to find Stewart completely nude, in possession of a handgun, and in the vicinity of a second deceased victim, Ballard, who was the Postmaster for Dublin. Stewart was arrested by Columbus Police Officers and has been in custody since.
Killing any officer or employee of the United States is a federal crime eligible to be punished by the death penalty.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the investigation of this case by Dublin and Columbus Police and USPIS, as well as Assistant United States Attorney David A. DeVillers and Special Assistant United States Attorney James Lowe, who are prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
