Fatal Dickinson shooting case goes to trial – The Dickinson Press

DICKINSON – Jeffrey Powell, a 67-year-old Dickinson resident, pleaded not guilty to a murder charge during his preliminary hearing on August 19, 2024, in Stark County District Court. Powell is accused of firing a shot that resulted in the death of 59-year-old Christopher Volney Ische. The case now moves to the next phase, where it will be assigned to a judge for further legal action, including scheduling a trial.

Powell waived the preliminary hearing and formal reading of the charges against him. With this decision, Powell also waived the opportunity to challenge the procedural aspects of the case through his defense. This decision effectively streamlined the trial process and allowed the legal system to skip these initial procedural steps and move directly to the further stages of the case. As a result, the court will now focus on planning and preparing for a jury trial, thus speeding up the progression of the case.

The shooting incident occurred on July 3, 2024, at approximately 7:11 p.m. in the 1000 block of Enterprise Avenue, a residential neighborhood in Dickinson. According to initial reports, Dickinson Police were alerted to the situation by a 911 call describing a shooting.

When police officers responded to the 911 call, they arrived on the scene to find Ische suffering from a gunshot wound. Powell, the suspect suspected of firing the weapon, was on the scene when officers arrived. Powell remained on the scene and cooperated fully with law enforcement officers during the investigation of the incident.

Manuel Holguin JR / The Dickinson Press

Ische was taken by ambulance to CHI St. Alexius Health, where he was pronounced dead.

Following the shooting, detectives with the Dickinson Police Department conducted an investigation, interviewing several witnesses and questioning Powell about the incident. Based on the information gathered during these interviews, detectives were able to establish probable cause for Powell's arrest. Powell was then taken into custody and has been held at the Southwest Multi-County Correction Center since his arrest. He will remain in custody at that facility while awaiting further court proceedings. At this time, no trial date has been set for his case and the case is in the preliminary trial phase.

The investigation into the shooting revealed that Powell and Ische knew each other prior to the incident. Investigators determined that the two individuals had a prior relationship, although the details of their interactions remain unclear. Based on the findings, authorities have classified the shooting as an isolated incident, meaning there is no evidence of broader threats or ongoing problems between Powell and Ische. The case appears to be an isolated altercation rather than part of a larger pattern of violence or criminal activity.

The case will continue to be monitored as it moves through the justice system, with further hearings and a trial expected in the coming months.