Shivangi Sinha
In July 2022, police responded to a report of a shooting in Sidney, Ohio. Upon arrival, they discovered James Rayl lying in the courtyard with three gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers arrested the homeowner, Mitchell Duckro, in connection with the shooting. However, Duckro claimed he acted in self-defense and stated that he was trying to protect his family. The case and the events leading up to the deadly encounter are explored in detail in the A&E episode of ‘Accused: Did I Do It? ‘, titled ‘Angry Ex or Defensive Dad?’
Mitchell Duckro Quickly Accepted He Was Responsible for the Shooting
Mitchell Duckro had built a good life for himself in Sidney, Ohio. His wife, Stacie Duckro, and their daughter, Allyson Duckro, were the center of his world, and he was known to be a devoted and caring father. He was a well-regarded member of the community with no history of troubling behavior that would suggest anything out of character. However, on July 31, 2022, a 911 call came from Allyson, reporting that her ex-boyfriend was trying to force his way into their home. When police arrived at the scene, they discovered 22-year-old James Rayl in the Duckros’ front yard with three gunshot wounds to his back and shoulders. Duckro admitted to firing the shots and was taken into custody for questioning, along with his daughter Allyson.
At the police station, Allyson explained that she and James had dated during high school and described their relationship as fairly typical. However, she alleged that over time, James began speaking to her in a rude and increasingly aggressive manner. He was also allegedly using recreational drugs at the time. Things came to a head in 2019 when she decided to end the relationship, and it appeared that James had moved on. He relocated to California, where he was pursuing a career in the fitness industry, and for a while, it seemed their breakup was final. But by mid-2022, James had returned to Sidney, and because he and Allyson still shared mutual friends, she began hearing about him again through their social circle.
Allyson stated that on the night of July 30, 2022, James left her a voicemail in which he said he wanted to hear from her again. He mentioned that it had been a long time and expressed uncertainty about how he felt regarding the distance between them. Allyson said the message unsettled her, but she didn’t expect anything serious to come of it. The following morning, around 11 am, she noticed James approaching her house. Alarmed, she quickly went inside and locked the door, then alerted her mother and father. They attempted to communicate with James through the Ring doorbell camera and asked him to leave, but he continued standing at the door and refused to go.
Mitchell Duckro Prefers to Stay Away From the Limelight Today
According to Allyson Duckro, that was when Mitchell Duckro decided to retrieve his 9mm handgun for safety from the garage. She claimed that James Rayl began tampering with the door and forcefully banging on it. Duckro alleged that James managed to push the door open a few inches by using his shoulder to force it. He claimed that when he initially tried to fire, he realized the magazine wasn’t loaded and panicked, but he quickly inserted it and fired three shots. He admitted that James had stepped off the porch and was walking away after the shots were fired, but also said his memory of the moment was unclear. He recalled seeing the young man walk away briefly before collapsing in the courtyard.
On August 30, 2022, prosecutors brought their case before a grand jury, seeking to indict Duckro. They argued that because all of James’ gunshot wounds were in his back, it indicated he had been walking away at the time he was shot, suggesting the use of lethal force was not in self-defense. In response, the defense presented the 911 call made shortly after the shooting, during which Allyson could be heard telling her father, “Dad, there’s nothing you could have done. You saved my life.” Duckro stated he had never met James while he was dating Allyson and had believed the relationship was long over.
Ultimately, the grand jury declined to press charges, citing Ohio’s “Stand Your Ground” and “Castle Doctrine” laws, which permit homeowners to use deadly force if they feel threatened in their own home. The case attracted widespread national attention, polarizing public opinion. Since the ruling, the Duckro family has remained out of the public eye, focusing on healing from the experience.
Read More: Where is Alex Weiss Now? Accused Did I Do It Update
