Man guilty of murder in Coventry Township shooting

A man named Jeffery Peasley has been found guilty of murdering Robert Zornes Jr. in Coventry Township in 2021. The jury convicted Peasley, 44, of two counts of murder along with several other charges. Prosecutors say the crime occurred when Peasley visited a home where Zornes, 49, was staying. An argument between the two escalated quickly. During the confrontation, Peasley shot Zornes with a shotgun as he tried to escape. After the shooting, Peasley took Zornes' motorcycle and left the scene. He was arrested two days later in Niles after crashing the stolen bike. Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich commented that retaliation is not an acceptable way to resolve conflicts. He expressed hope that the verdict provides some closure to Zornes' family. Peasley is set to be sentenced on May 12 at 9 a.m.