CUSTAR – New details are emerging following the shooting of a man in the village last week.Lt.
Jamie Webb of the Wood County Sheriff’s Office said this morning that, while still hospitalized, William
Morris, 42, of Rutland, is now conscious and has been interviewed by investigators.Webb stated that on
Nov. 20, Morris went to the residence of Thomas Boyer, 53, at 22743 Defiance Pike, to check on the home
and determine if it was occupied.The home is in foreclosure, and Morris, working as a subcontractor for
a company ultimately engaged by OneWest Bank, which foreclosed on the property in September, was to
change the locks on the home and winterize it if no one was still living there. The home is to be sold
at a sheriff’s sale in January."Once he finds out the property is occupied, he’s not obviously
going to force the person from the residence," said Webb.Near an unattached garage at the southwest
of the property, Morris and a man who works for his firm, Phillip Butler, had contact with Boyer
outside."Boyer confronted him outside the house," said Webb, and then entered the residence.
When he re-emerged, Boyer was carrying a shotgun.At that time, Butler and Morris moved toward their car,
and Butler called 911.The incident was reported around 1 p.m.Webb indicated that Butler was on the phone
with a sheriffs’ dispatcher when Boyer shot Morris in the back as Morris was attempting to enter the
front passenger side of the car.A single shot was fired.Morris was later taken by air ambulance to
University of Toledo Medical Center. He was listed in fair condition there Monday.Upon the arrival of a
deputy to the scene, Boyer was still reportedly in possession of the shotgun and was held at gunpoint by
a deputy before he was arrested.The home is located across the road from St. Louis Catholic School,
which was placed on lockdown for approximately an hour during the incident.Boyer remains incarcerated in
the Wood County jail on $1 million bond and has been charged with attempted murder.