Deborah Pearl

Cleveland 19 News screenshot

Deborah Pearl, 53, was on her way to work Saturday morning when her car was hit by a Jeep that ran through a red light at an intersection in Solon, Ohio, Cleveland 19 News reports.


What followed the accident was even worse.

After his vehicle had flipped over several times, Matthew Ryan Desha, 29, emerged from it holding a 5.56-millimeter high-powered assault rifle and started shooting aimlessly.


“He was shooting randomly,” said Barbara Bartels, a witness who called 911.

Matthew Desha

SOLON, Ohio, POLICE DEPARTMENT

But then he began aiming his rifle at Pearl.

“We heard about 12 shots,” said Courtney Reese, a witness.

Reese's mother, Michelle, said, "After the first shot, I heard a woman scream out."


It is unclear how many times Pearl was hit.

According to the New York Daily News, Desha was arrested near the scene and on Monday morning was charged in connection with Pearl's death. The motive for the shooting remains unknown.


This is not Desha's first experience with crime. He was previously charged with one felony count of carrying a concealed weapon and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Read more at Cleveland 19 News and the New York Daily News.