Rosalie Martin

LISBON — No criminal charges will be filed against anyone in the St. Clair Township officer-involved shooting that left a 4-year-old girl dead, an allegedly suicidal man dead and Officer Dakota Wetzel injured.

Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch, who was appointed special prosecutor to review all the evidence, announced the decision Thursday after speaking first with the families of the deceased, 4-year-old Rosalie Martin, Steubenville, and Joe Como, 30, Wellsville. He also notified the St. Clair Township Police Department.

“Looking at how the interaction with Mr. Como and Officer (Dakota) Wetzel played out, just in those few moments, he was presented with making a decision in literally less than a second that was going to impact someone’s life forever. Based upon the investigation, what he did was justified,” Welch said by phone regarding Wetzel’s actions.

The shooting occurred on Jan. 22, 2025 on St. Clair Avenue near the Huntington Bank and the Dentistry for Children and Teens office when St. Clair Township police officers confronted Como, a diagnosed schizophrenic, who was allegedly suicidal. Body camera footage reportedly showed law enforcement officers firing first at Como, who was standing in front of the dentist office when he was shot. Como was armed when Wetzel and Detective Chase Askounes made contact with him. After Como was shot, he fired back, hitting Wetzel in the head. Como later died from mutiple gunshot wounds. Wetzel was life-flighted to a Pittsburgh area hospital and recovered, attending the Columbiana County law enforcement memorial luncheon in June. Rosalie was in the dentist office when a stray bullet pierced a window pane and struck her in the head. She later died at East Liverpool City Hospital awaiting life flight.

Columbiana County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino said in December that Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton apppointed Welch a few months ago after Abruzzino recused his office from reviewing the case.

Based on his review of all the evidence gathered, which included body camera footage from officers, other video footage, a DNA report, a ballistics report and the thorough investigation done by law enforcement and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, he said the case will not be presented to the grand jury. No charges will be filed.

According to Welch, Wetzel arrived on the scene after receiving a call about Como and called to him after exiting his cruiser. Como turned and started walking toward him and by then another officer had arrived. Como was told to show his hands and as Como was being approached and his arm was coming out, a firearm was visible. He said Wetzel then fired five shots. The first two shots hit Como, then Como spun away as a third shot was fired. Wetzel then fired two more shots as Como fired one shot that hit Wetzel in the head. One of Wetzel’s final two shots hit Rosalie Martin.

Welch said Como still appeared to be moving and the other officer on the scene fired 11 to 13 shots.

The first contact with Como to the shooting lasted less than 25 to 30 seconds.

Welch arrived in the area Wednesday because he wanted to look at the scene where the shooting took place and went to that area of St. Clair Township to see it in person. On Thursday morning, he spoke with both families separately at different times at the Columbiana County Prosecutor’s Office in Lisbon.

“I wanted to have an opportunity to explain to them my decision,” he said, adding that he also wanted to show them any video footage or body camera footage they wanted to see and answer any questions they had.

Como’s family listened to the initial confrontation, but nothing beyond that. The Martin family did not look at any of the videos or reports. The father had already seen the video.

When asked about their reaction, Welch said, “They were not happy. I understand their anger and frustration. I can’t begin to understand the depths of their loss.”

mgreier@mojonews.com