Father Accidentally Shot Ka'Marion Dolce With Moving Gun Inside Stark Motel

CANTON — Investigators are shedding new light on the fatal shooting of 7-year-old Ka’Marion Dolch at a Belden Village-area motel on June 21.

Stark County Sheriff’s Office Detective Timothy Hostetler testified Monday during a hearing in Canton Municipal Court that the gun was fired accidentally when the victim’s father, William B. Dolch, tried to move it from a nightstand.

“The gun went off and hit the child,” Hostetler said. “The gun was then removed from the room and taken to different locations to be hidden.”

Defense attorney Patrick Cusma asked Hostetler how he knew Dolch had the gun in his hand when the shooting occurred.

“He told me that,” the detective said.

In response to a question from Canton Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kristina M. Lockwood, Hostetler said the gun was removed from the Knights Inn room to hinder the further investigation.

The tragedy: 7-year-old boy dies after being shot at Stark County motel; father later arrested

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Hostetler said the version of events told by Brittany A. Franko, Dolch’s co-defendant who was also in the motel room and called 911, was that she and a child were folding blankets when they heard a loud noise and Ka’Marion fell to the ground. She said she turned around and saw a gun on the floor.

Hostetler said a phone obtained as part of the investigation included conversations between Dolch and Franko about how to cover up what happened in the room at the motel, located at 3950 Convenience Circle NW in Plain Township, just east of Whipple Avenue NW.

Alleged tampering with evidence: Third person charged in fatal shooting of boy at Plain Township motel

The detective said that during his investigation, he spoke to three adults and two children who were in the motel room at the time of the shooting, as well as a neighbor in another unit.

What’s next for suspects in Ka’Marion Dolce shooting?

Magistrate Derek C. McClowry sent the case against Dolch, 37, to Stark County Magistrate Court for consideration by a grand jury. He said there was sufficient evidence to believe the alleged offenses or another serious crime occurred and that Dolch committed them.

Dolch is being held on $750,000 bail set in Canton Municipal Court. He faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, tampering with evidence, child endangerment and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Franko, 29, is scheduled to appear in Canton Municipal Court on Tuesday, charged with aiding and abetting involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment and obstructing official business.

A third defendant, Joseph E. King, 33, is charged with tampering with evidence for allegedly tampering with the gun that shot Ka’Marion on June 22. His case has been forwarded to trial court. He is being held in the Stark County Jail on $250,000 bail.

All three defendants are listed in court records as living at the Knights Inn.

Visitation for Ka’Marion, who lived in Cleveland, is scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Cummings & Davis Funeral Home, 13201 Euclid Ave., East Cleveland. A wake is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, followed by funeral services at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be private.

His mother Rickita Corbin has launched an online fundraiser on *spotfund to help pay for his funeral.

In her appeal, Corbin described her son as a smart boy who loved his brothers and loved making TikTok videos with his siblings. She wrote that he was called home “due to a reckless act of gun violence.”

She described herself as a single mother of four who was “trying to make sure everything goes well for her boys.” She wrote that she would appreciate any help, including prayers, if a monetary donation is not possible.

Contact Nancy at 330-580-8382 or [email protected]. On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR.