Fremont housing authority sued for guard's shooting

7/24/2001

FREMONT - A woman is suing the Sandusky County Metropolitan Housing Authority, claiming her former employer failed to take disciplinary action against a security guard before he shot her.

Yvonne Price, 42, was the manager of the Fort Stephenson Homes. On July 2, 1999, Rafel Rocha, 62, a security guard at the facility, shot Mrs. Price and Robin Kocher, 49, during a meeting to discuss a complaint about his job performance. Rocha pleaded guilty to shooting the women and was sentenced to 19 years in prison.

In a lawsuit filed yesterday in Sandusky County Common Pleas Court, Mrs. Price claims the housing authority was negligent in hiring Rocha. She contends the authority never took disciplinary action against Rocha before the shootings, even though residents had complained about him.

Mrs. Price is seeking an undisclosed amount of money in damages. A trial date is pending.