Ohio State Highway Patrol
Media Release

 

General Headquarters — Columbus, Ohio

 


For Immediate Release: August 15, 2005
Contact: Lt. Tony Bradshaw (614) 752-2792
Jamie Dalton (216) 698-2819 (Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office)

 

Media inquiries regarding the Dr. Gulam Moonda homicide now directed to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office

COLUMBUS – Due to the ongoing investigation and continued media interest into the May 13 fatal shooting of Dr. Gulam Moonda on the Ohio Turnpike, all media inquiries should now be directed to Public Information Officer Jamie Dalton at (216) 698-2819 of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.

All media inquiries received by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and other agencies involved will be directed to the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office. While no charges or arrests have been made in this case, investigators in Ohio and Pennsylvania are making progress and continue to follow leads and analyze evidence.

Patrol investigators continue to urge anyone with information on this case to call the 1-866-678-8477 toll-free tip-line.

On May 13, troopers responded to a report of an injury on the Ohio Turnpike westbound, near milepost 164, in North Royalton. Upon arrival, troopers discovered Dr. Moonda had been shot in the head after a reported roadside robbery had occurred. Dr. Moonda, and Dorothy Smouse, 74, both of Hermitage, PA were passengers in a 2000 Jaguar being driven by his wife, Donna Moonda, 46, when they stopped along the Ohio Turnpike to change drivers. It was reported that during that change, an unknown suspect driving a dark colored van stopped with the victim and demanded money. The suspect carried out the robbery, shot Dr. Moonda, and fled the scene. Dr. Moonda died from an apparent single gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene by LifeFlight EMS.

The Dr. Moonda Reward Fund of $25,000 was established through a group consisting of family, friends, and Dr. Moonda’s local community. Reward criteria are, in part, for new information, which must be reported through the new toll-free tip-line and the fund is not being managed by the Patrol. Donations to the fund will be accepted only through First National Bank, One FNB Boulevard, Hermitage, PA, 16148.

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05-125


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