AKRON, OH – In the early hours of Saturday morning, a domestic dispute in an Akron neighborhood spiraled into lethal violence, leaving a mother dead and her two adult sons fighting for survival in chaos that shattered the quiet of Miles Avenue.
Authorities say the suspect, 38-year-old Gregory Tillman, is accused of fatally attacking his girlfriend in a grisly episode that unfolded just after midnight. He now faces multiple felony charges, including murder, assault, and domestic violence, according to records from the Summit County Jail.
Rebecca Guthrie, 44, was at home with her sons and Tillman when a fight erupted, escalating far beyond what anyone in the household anticipated. The dispute allegedly began as a typical argument between the couple—common enough that, according to friends and family, such noise would not usually have caused alarm.
But this confrontation quickly turned violent. Investigators say Tillman attacked Guthrie, inflicting both stab and gunshot wounds. Emergency medical crews pronounced her dead at the scene not long after police arrived, with officials confirming injuries to her head and body.
The violence did not end with Guthrie. As her adult sons tried to intervene, Tillman allegedly fired upon them as well. The older son, age 25, sustained a graze wound to his head from a bullet, but managed to wrestle for control of the weapon. Meanwhile, the younger son, 18, recounted a frantic struggle that saw both siblings desperately attempting to disarm the assailant.
Law enforcement received a desperate call from the residence around 2:10 a.m. Officers arrived to a chaotic scene, with distraught family members seeking help and the victim lying on the living room floor. The sons, one injured and both in shock, told police about their efforts to subdue Tillman when the firearm jammed.
Tillman fled the scene on foot but didn’t get far. Officers found and detained him a short distance from the home soon after their arrival. He was transported to jail, where he is being held without bond as investigations continue.
Court records also indicate that Tillman faces charges for possessing a firearm despite a previous disability, compounding his legal jeopardy. Details about his criminal history or what prevented him from legally carrying a weapon were not immediately released.
Neighbors, shocked by the eruption of violence, described Guthrie as a devoted mother who worked hard to support her family. “She took care of those boys,” said one resident. “You never expect this kind of thing to happen down the street.”
As of Monday, the injured son remained hospitalized, recovering from his wounds. The Akron Police Department continues to piece together the events leading to the deadly outburst while providing support services to the surviving family members.
Officials emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and encouraged anyone with information about the incident to contact authorities.