Friday, January 29, 1999
Dad's slaying called mistake
Son, 21, faces murder charge
BY DAN HORN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
James L. Clark may not have meant to kill his father, but he's facing a murder charge anyway.
Prosecutors say Mr. Clark apparently shot his father by mistake Jan. 19 when he aimed his handgun at another man during a street fight in Over-the-Rhine.
He was indicted on murder charges Thursday under a new state law that calls for stiffer penalties in cases involving guns.
Assistant county prosecutor Karl Kadon said Mr. Clark, 21, would likely have been indicted on the lesser charge of manslaughter under the old law because his father probably was not the intended target.
Instead, he said, Mr. Clark aimed the gun at a man who was fighting with his father on East Clifton Avenue in Over-the-Rhine.
His father, James Clark Sr., 39, died earlier this week from the injuries he suffered in the Jan. 19 shooting. Police said the bullet struck him in the mouth.
Prosecutors say the Clarks were fighting three other men when James L. Clark pulled out a handgun and opened fire.
In addition to the murder charge, he faces three counts of felonious assault. No one else was injured.
If convicted, Mr. Clark could be sentenced to 18 years to life in prison on the murder charge and up to eight years on each of the assault charges.
According to police reports, some of the participants in the fight said it started because of “bad blood” between families and their respective friends.
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