‘The most beautiful man you could ever meet;’ People Mourning Business Owner Shot to Death in Springfield – WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio

SPRINGFIELD – People in Springfield are mourning the loss of a business owner who was shot and killed Thursday night.

The community honored Thomas A. Gill on Saturday night.

>>Man killed in shooting in Springfield

News Center 7’s Brandon Lewis says candles and balloons are at the front door of Gill’s Quality Meat Market in the 1500 block of Selma Road and people say Gill meant so much to the city.

“It’s a sad, sad, sad time to lose someone like him,” said Denise Williams, president of the Springfield NAACP. “The most beautiful man you could ever meet.”

“Rest in peace, Tom Gill.” That message is part of a growing monument to him.

He had owned Gill’s Quality Meat Market since 1998, according to the store’s website.

“I’ve only been there a few times and every time I’ve been there, you know he’s always been friendly,” Williams told Lewis.

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Officers found Gill with a gunshot wound to the neck Thursday, Springfield police said at a Friday news conference. He was pronounced dead at Springfield Regional Medical Center.

“This hit home,” said Springfield Police Chief Allison Elliott. “Whenever our community deals with a situation like this, everyone grieves, family members grieve, our community grieves.”

Williams told Lewis it’s just hard to imagine this happening to such a beloved business owner.

“I will speak for myself,” she said. “I have never heard anything negative about Mr. Gill or his company, nothing. So I’m trying to tell you that it’s pointless for this to happen. I mean, he wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

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Gill’s has a sign on the front door saying it is currently closed and may reopen on January 10th.

“I think the only thing we need to do at this point is pray for the family,” Williams said. “My heart is with the family. We have to really embrace them.”

Springfield Police say if you have any information that could help them in this case, please contact them.

Police did not release any details about the circumstances of the shooting or information about a potential suspect during a news conference Friday.

A vigil for Thomas Gill is scheduled for Monday at 5 p.m. at Gill’s Market.

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