Vincent Stoetzel was the kind of guy who always put his family above everything else. At just 29 years old, he had built a life grounded in faith, love, and steady hard work. He was a proud husband to his wife Maddie, a devoted dad to four young children, and a encouraging presence to everyone around him. Friends knew him as a dedicated mentor and someone you could always lean on when life got tough.
That comforting routine came to a sudden and tragic end on Wednesday afternoon. Vincent went into work like any other day at the Carter Lumber facility on Reading Road. But inside the door manufacturing plant, a nightmare unfolded. Police records reveal a horrific scene where Vincent was shot approximately 22 times in a violent workplace attack.
First responders rushed to the scene, but the young father could not be saved. News of the shooting sent shockwaves through the local industrial park and the surrounding neighborhoods. Law enforcement quickly moved in on the property and took a suspect, identified as David Cohen, into custody in connection with the deadly shooting.
Cohen made his first court appearance on Thursday for his arraignment. Court documents show he remains held behind bars at the Warren County Jail without bond for now. A formal bond hearing and a preliminary court hearing are set for Monday, though law enforcement officials have not yet released any public statement regarding a possible motive.
Carter Lumber confirmed the heartbreaking loss of their employee through a social media post shortly after the tragedy. The company expressed deep sorrow over the incident and stated that they are fully cooperating with police investigators. Daily operations at the Reading Road facility came to a halt as fellow workers struggled to cope with the sudden loss of their co-worker.
In the wake of such a devastating tragedy, the local community immediately stepped up to surround Maddie and her four children with love and support. A GoFundMe campaign titled “Lifting up Maddie and Her Family in Love” began circulating online almost right away. By Friday, nearly 500 kind donors had chipped in, pushing the total funds raised past the $50,000 mark to help ease the family’s financial burden.
While the legal system works through the upcoming court proceedings, those who loved Vincent are choosing to focus on his life rather than his final moments. He leaves behind a legacy of faith, kindness, and deep devotion as a father that will never be forgotten. The road ahead for his young family will be long, but a caring community is making sure they do not have to walk it alone.
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