WEST CHESTER TWP., Ohio – A grand jury has returned murder charges against all four men who allegedly took part in a planned robbery that led to the shooting death of 18-year-old Tyler Kassow in his West Chester home Jan. 13.
Demarcus Staley, 19, of Cincinnati, was the only one charged with murder when the four were arrested last week. The grand jury raised complicity to murder charges against the other three - Justin Koch, 18, of Sharonville, and Cincinnati residents Rodney Foster, 19, and Jibril Willingham, 20.
The grand jury also indicted all four men on charges of kidnapping, aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated robbery and two counts of tampering with evidence.
Each man is being held in the Butler County Jail. Staley is being held on a $1.5 million bond, Foster on a $1 million bond, and Koch and Willingham each on a $250,000 bond.
Each will be tried separately.
The four drove to Kassow's house in the 9300 block of Cincinnati Columbus Road last Wednesday afternoon, police said. Staley and Foster got out and went to the door wearing ski masks. When Kassow's little brother opened it, they forced their way in and shot Kassow in the head, police said.
West Chester Police Chief Joel Herzog told the Journal-News that the attack on Kassow wasn’t a random incident. Officials confirmed in court Monday that the incident was drug-related.
Herzog also said the four drove off without taking anything from the home.
Police ask that anyone with information about the crime call 513-777-2231 or 911.
