COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Police say robbery was the likely motive in the fatal shooting of a minister whose wife initially believed he'd died of a heart attack while shoveling snow outside their Ohio home.
The Franklin County coroner says Billy Howard, a minister at Columbus Christian Center Church, died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
His wife had called 911, assuming he had suffered a heart attack while clearing snow. She said medics noticed a puncture wound in her husband's chest as they drove the couple to the hospital.
Police said Howard's wallet was missing as well as some other personal items.
Friends and family say the 55-year-old Howard was committed to helping people avoid a life of crime and had planned to start a group that would help released prisoners.
His stepdaughter says Howard "always put God first, then his family."
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