Prosecutor: South Toledo man shot neighbor over property line dispute

Christopher Krauzer

A South Toledo man was indicted Wednesday in the shooting death of an elderly man during an apparent dispute over a property line.

Christopher A. Krauzer, 49, of the 520 block of Emerald Avenue, is charged with aggravated murder and murder in the Sept. 5 shooting death of Gordon Capshaw, 75, of the 2400 block of Broadway Avenue.

Mr. Capshaw was installing a privacy fence on his property when his neighbor, Mr. Krauzer, approached him and the two began arguing where the property line was located, said Jeff Lingo, chief of the criminal division for the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office.

A witness told police Mr. Krauzer and Mr. Capshaw had been feuding over a property line for a long time, according to court records. 

The witness then reported hearing a gunshot and walked outside to see Mr. Capshaw with a gunshot wound to the head. 

Mr. Capshaw was transported to Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead Sept. 6, according to police. His death was ruled a homicide by Diane Scala-Barnett, a deputy Lucas County coroner. 

When Toledo police arrived at the Emerald Avenue scene shortly after 3 p.m. Sept. 5, officers found Mr. Krauzer armed with a rifle. Officers believe he initially wanted to “commit suicide by police,” although he did not aim or fire his weapon at police, Toledo police spokesman Lt. Kevan Toney said. 

Mr. Krauzer surrendered and was taken into custody without incident. 

If convicted, Mr. Krauzer could face life in prison.

Contact Allison Dunn at adunn@theblade.com, 419-213-2134 or on Twitter @AllisonDBlade.