Man indicted for fatal Ashland Ave. stabbing

12/13/2003

A Toledo man was indicted yesterday by a Lucas County grand jury for the stabbing death last week of Robert Smith in a near-downtown apartment building.

Ronald Johnson, 43, of Ashland Manor, 2030 Ashland Ave., was indicted on one count of aggravated murder.

Police said Robert Smith, 63, who lived in the apartment building, was assaulted Dec. 4 during a quarrel over the theft of rent money. He was stabbed multiple times in the neck.

An interfaith prayer vigil will be held at 5 p.m. tomorrow in the parking area near Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, Ashland and West Woodruff avenues, in memory of Mr. Smith.

A vigil is held whenever a death caused by violence occurs in Toledo. Sponsors are the Toledo Area Council of Churches, Toledo Metropolitan Ministries, the Interracial Religious Coalition, the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, America's Nightmare Due to the Lack of Respect and Education of Weapons, and the Justice and Peace Group of the Emmaus Cluster.