Jay Clark, of Franklin, is accused of shooting and killing Nathan K. Eve, an acquaintance from Lebanon.
By Justin McClelland
Staff Writer
LEBANON — A Franklin man admitted to police that he knelt over the wounded body of another man and shot him in the head, a Lebanon police officer testified Thursday.
Jay Clark, 21, 4156 Marvel Drive, Franklin, is accused of killing Nathan K. Eve, 19, of Lebanon on Sunday. Clark appeared before Lebanon Municipal Judge Mark Bogen in a preliminary hearing Thursday.
During testimony, Detective Mark Allen of the Lebanon police said the Clark admitted that he broke into the home Eve shared with two other men at 418 Deerfield Road after receiving a threatening voicemail that Clark believed had come from Eve.
Clark entered the house through a side door and was carrying a gun he had purchased several years earlier, Allen testified.
After stealing a pair of cell phones belonging to the home’s occupants, Allen said Clark confronted Eve and Devin Luken, another of the home’s occupants, in an attached garage.
After exchanging words, the three men became involved in an altercation in which Clark shot Eve, Allen said.
Eve stumbled outside of the garage and collapsed.
After threatening Lukin away, Clark told Allen he knelt down before Eve’s body and “put one in Nate’s head,” the detective said.
After fleeing the scene, Clark was spotted placing the gun in a creek near Mechanic Street, Allen said.
The witness alerted police about the suspicious behavior and they were able to retrieve a .38 caliber Colt revolver that Allen said was the gun used to shoot Eve.
Allen said witnesses from Deerfield Road identified Clark as the shooter and he was also identified by the person who allegedly saw Clark dispose of the gun.
Clark was arrested by Warren County sheriff’s deputies shortly thereafter, Allen said.
Eve was taken by ambulance to Bethesda Medical Center at Arrow Springs and later University Hospital in Cincinnati, where he was pronounced dead.
Clark was bound over to the Warren County Grand Jury following Allen’s testimony.
He is charged with aggravated murder, aggravated burglary and aggravated menacing, first degree felonies, along with two misdemeanors.
He is being held on a $1 million bond.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4544 or jmcclelland@coxohio.com.