Jovonie McClendon Jr., a 33-year-old military veteran, has been identified as the man who shot and killed himself on Facebook Live on Friday, February 1.
According to reports, McClendon Jr. — who was believed to be suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, took his own life after he killed a 5-year-old boy and injured his girlfriend.
In a statement, Miami Twp. Police Chief Ron Hess said that officers responded to the residence in the Sagebrook Apartment complex after receiving a call from concerned family members saying that Mclendon claimed to have killed his girlfriend and her son and that he was about to kill himself.
In addition to receiving a call from concerned family members, police received a call from a man they believed to be McClendon himself, claiming to have killed his girlfriend and her son. Police say that the suspect told dispatchers “I’m sorry.”
When police arrived at the scene around 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 1, they found both McClendon and a 5-year-old boy dead, and McClendon’s girlfriend in critical condition. She was rushed to a hospital where she remained in critical condition.
Speaking to WHIO, Army Reservist Jordan King — a friend of McClendon’s — says he believes McClendon was suffering from PSTD and “lost control.”
“This is my assumption. I believe he lost control. He raged out and he did what he did … There was no coming back from that,” King said.
Furthermore, King clarified that he reached out to WHIO with information about McClendon because he wanted to “make sure my friend is not depicted in a negative light.”
“I’m sure he acted out of anger, because PTSD, you really can’t control it. Once you’re on the loose, you’re raging, “King explained.
If you or anyone you know appears to be suicidal, do not hesitate to reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255.