Kyle Reedy was a 26-year-old man from Massillon, Ohio, described by those who knew him as loyal, intense, and a "closet teddy bear at times" who was always there for everyone. A father, he was known to friends by the nickname "Big reedy."
On the afternoon of June 24, 2020, Reedy was at a home in the 1000 block of Fifth Street SW in Canton. His friend, Tobiah Harshaw, was there cutting someone's hair. Reedy had placed his 9mm handgun on a table. Harshaw picked up the firearm, and as he was apparently trying to unload or reload it, the gun accidentally discharged. The bullet struck Reedy in the chest. Emergency services were called at 4:44 p.m., and Reedy was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:10 p.m.
In the immediate aftermath, Harshaw fled the scene in Reedy's vehicle and a homicide investigation was launched. Canton police, with the Stark County Coroner's Office, began searching for Harshaw, who was quickly identified as the suspect.
Reedy's vehicle was later recovered in Columbus. A warrant was issued for Harshaw's arrest, and the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force joined the multi-month search, noting that he was known to frequent Columbus, Chicago, and Houston.
On October 20, 2020, the manhunt ended when the task force arrested Harshaw in Columbus. He was initially charged in connection with the killing and held on a $2 million bond. As the investigation continued, however, witness statements and Harshaw’s own account corroborated that the shooting had been a tragic accident.
Prosecutors consulted with Reedy’s family and reached a plea agreement with Harshaw. On January 4, 2021, Tobiah Harshaw, then 43, pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and having weapons under disability, a charge stemming from a prior felony conviction that barred him from possessing a firearm.
On the same day, a judge sentenced Harshaw to three years in prison. During the hearing, the judge acknowledged that the shooting was unintentional but remarked on the tragedy caused by the misuse of guns. The case was officially closed with the sentencing in January 2021.
