The search for a motive in the shooting death of a rural Seymour man early Wednesday morning continues, police report.
Ryan Joseph Ross, 28, was found dead in an apartment at Sycamore Springs on Seymour’s far east side by county officers responding to a call at 5:37 a.m. that a man had been shot.
Tobias Au, 30, of Hope made the call, Sheriff Rick Meyer said during a news conference this afternoon outside the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown.
After an investigation, Au was arrested on a preliminary charge of murder in connection with Ross’ death, police said.
Meyer said Ross had previously been in a relationship with Dakota Anderson, who lived in the apartment at 2710 Bent Tree Lane.
The two also had a child together, but Anderson was now dating Au, Meyer said, and neither Au nor Ross lived with Anderson at the address.
Police said Ross had gone to the apartment to exchange their child, and Anderson let him in after he knocked on the door.
While Ross was inside near the door, Au, who had arrived at the residence shortly before Ross, shot him several times. At this time, a motive is unknown.
Au then called the sheriff’s department to inform them of the shooting. Once officers arrived, both Au and Anderson were taken to the sheriff’s department, where they were interviewed.
After both interviews were conducted and crime scene technicians compared notes they had taken at the scene, Au was arrested for murder.
A protective order was placed in January for Ross to stay away from Anderson, although it is unconfirmed if Jennings County, where Ross resided, had served him.
Find the full story in Friday’s Tribune.
