Cleveland man killed while mowing lawn was planning Spain hiking trip this week, loved ones say
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Family members of Tom Overall told FOX 8 that they are devastated and in shock over his death.
The 68-year-old West Park resident was shot by his next door neighbor on Wednesday while cutting his grass on Munn Road.
His grieving loved ones shared this statement with FOX 8’s Suzanne Stratford:
”Tom’s immediate and extended family are shocked and grief stricken over his loss. He was well liked and well loved by everyone who knew him. Originally from Missouri, Tom moved to Cleveland with a job opportunity decades ago. He quickly adopted Cleveland as his hometown and loved it here. He loved his neighborhood and his neighbors and the family is appreciative of all the prayers and love shown by those neighbors during this difficult time.”
Photo from the family of Thomas Overall
Overall was loved by all who knew him.
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Friends and neighbors described him as a faithful Christian with a soft voice, a generous soul and kind heart.
He was preparing to leave early Friday morning, headed to Spain to hike The St. James Way or Camino de Santiago, an ancient pilgrimage trail and once in a lifetime hiking adventure.
“I was supposed to drop him off at the airport at four o’clock in the morning, tomorrow,” said Dan Kelley, a neighbor and friend. “It is kind of hard when you see that in your phone to kind of grasp reality that he’s gone.”
Overall was going to Spain with members of the Cleveland Hiking Club.
In a statement, CHC President Sharon Uhl said:
“Tom was a member of CHC since 2013 and hiked almost 6,000 miles with us. Many members knew him and hiked those miles with him, enjoying his company on the trail. He planned to leave May 16 for a 2-week hike in Spain with a group of CHC members. We are shocked and saddened by his needless death. A wonderful person, a loss for so many!”
Overall had a successful career and had retired but began working at Rocket Arena at the Cleveland Cavaliers games for fun.
Rock Entertainment Group sent this statement:
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of our valued Team Member, Tom. He was a compassionate and dedicated colleague whose absence will be felt both within our organization and in his community.”
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Cleveland police are investigating a possible motive for the alleged shooter, his next door neighbor 66-year-old Bryan Hurt, but other neighbors said there might not be one.
They described Hurt as a “volatile” person who had been in and out of jail and had multiple run-ins with the law and other residents.
Shortly after the murder, he was found not far away, deceased inside of a vehicle with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“It’s really terrible all around, and I think today as we’re grieving the loss of a neighbor, trying to also understand how it came to this point,” said Charles Slife, Cleveland Ward 17 Councilman.
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