A Madison County jury on Friday convicted a man of killing four people in West Jefferson in a mass shooting in May 2021.
John Paul Steckel, 37, was immediately sentenced to four life sentences with no chance of parole, according to West Jefferson police. He also was given an additional 12-year sentence for weapons charges.
The Madison County Common Pleas Court jury deliberated for more than four hours Friday before finding Steckel guilty of killing Andrew Swindall, 45, of West Jefferson; Shawn Wright, 45, and Leon Daniels, 38, both of London; and Jamie Lavender, 30, of Springfield, on May 24, 2021.
“Our hearts go out the victims’ families and our prayers are forever with you,” West Jefferson police said in a statement.
Before his arrest, Steckel’s last known address was the streets of Columbus. He was released from federal prison in January 2021 on a charge of illegal possession of a gun.
After his arrest in connection with the shootings, police said Steckel, known as JP, knew the victims and that robbery was a possible motive.