Police identify victim, suspect in Casa Grande Motel shooting

LANCASTER - A 27-year-old woman has been identified as the victim of a shooting death Saturday at a motel on the east side of Lancaster and her 29-year-old boyfriend is said by police to have shot her.

Lancaster police identified the man as Sonny A. Minshall, of Lancaster, and the victim was Corena A. Bower, of Lancaster. Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jerome Feyko said the Fairfield County Jail has Minshall held on a murder charge and an assault charge, though he said the charges could change after Lancaster police meet with the prosecutor’s office Monday.

The police report lists Bower and Minshall residing at the same address: 2749 E. Main St., Suite 2, at the motel where the shooting unfolded. They are also identified as being in a romantic relationship.

On Saturday night, a man standing near the motel's office said with obvious emotion that he was too shaken to answer any questions.

Around 12 hours after Bower was shot and killed in the Casa Grande Motel parking lot, little evidence remained to show anything had transpired overnight. Crime scene tape that blocked the entire parking lot Saturday night had been removed. A white laundry basket that had been tipped over with clothes spilling out the night before was gone. All that remained was some shattered glass from the passenger car window where she was reportedly shot.

Bower’s aunt, Paula Garcia, said they’d heard the news of her niece's death Saturday night and drove from Van Wert, hoping it wasn’t true. She drove into the parking lot as Eagle-Gazette reporters were on scene Sunday morning.

“It’s a shame because she had such a big heart and she helped anybody and she couldn’t turn her back on him because he was alone and she felt that she was the only one he had,” Garcia said. “And then he did this.”

A little over two weeks ago, Garcia remembered family members driving down during a snow storm to pick Bower up and take her back home with them. She said Bower claimed Minshall had hurt her and she’d wanted to get away from him. Although they took her back home, she said it wasn’t enough to keep her there.

“I wanted to shake her when I brought her down here, but when the kids are over 18, you can’t do anything,” she said. “You can just be there when they need you and there’s times like this, you wish you would’ve came and got her sooner.”

While up in Van Wert recently, Garcia said Bower had spent time with her young niece and nephew and they adored her.

“Her heart was always so big, even when she was about four or five. She always loved her little brother and she always had a big heart,” Garcia said. “And her laugh. Her laugh was one thing, you couldn’t stay mad at her when she laughed at you. She just made it more happy.”

Bower had known Minshall since they were in their teens, Garcia said. The last time Garcia had seen Minshall, she remembered something seemed off.

“But the last time I saw him, I seen a look in his eyes and I told her ‘you don’t want to go back around him ‘cause something will happen.’ And it did. Like I said, the last time I seen him, his eyes was dark like Charlie Manson’s and that’s just something you don’t forget. Just that look. But she’s in heaven and she’s gonna be OK,” Garcia said, her voice breaking.

When the incident happened, Bower’s aunt said a friend was coming to take her to the laundromat and she was getting ready to go when it happened.

“She was saying to me before she came down here ‘oh god, I’m going to be 30.’ She didn’t get to see it,” Garcia said. “There’s nothing you could do. No amount of crying or cussing or wishing the guy would drop dead is gonna bring our girl back, bring her back to us. But I know for darn sure, (when) I find out when his hearings are, I will be down here ‘cause he’s not gonna forget what he did. We won’t let him forget.”

The shooting death comes just seven weeks Fairfield County’s first homicide of 2018, when 81-year-old Loretta F. Yoli was reportedly shot and killed by a man detecitves identified as Frederick R. Held, 84, of Lancaster.

The Lancaster Fire Department was initially called to the motel around 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Lancaster Fire Capt. K.J. Watts confirmed a woman was found shot and killed in a car in the motel parking lot.

As police investigated, Lancaster Police Chief Adam Pillar and Det. Kurt Humbert used flashlights to peer into a Honda Civic that was taped off. Directly behind the car, a firearm laid on the parking lot, guarded by two officers. Lancaster police have not confirmed if the weapon was the one used in the crime.

Van Wert Municipal Court records indicate Minshall pleaded guilty to a Sept. 2016 misdemeanor assault charge. The court issued a warrant for failure to comply for him on Jan. 17. Two days later, records indicate he admitted to violating his probation.

In Fairfield County, Minshall was arrested in Sept. 2009 on misdemeanor charges of assault, aggravated menacing, and trespassing. He spent 19 days in jail and paid a $75 fine. He was ordered by the judge not to have contact with Bower and another man. He was also ordered not to possess weapons. It's unclear how long the no-contact order was in effect.

In Aug. 2015 and Dec. 2016, Minshall was arrested on assault charges once again.

The motel owner declined to comment on the incident Sunday morning.

Eagle-Gazette reporter Spencer Remoquillo contributed to this report.