Siefker
Photo courtesy of Hartman Sons Funeral Home
LIMA — Funeral services will be held Thursday for a Columbus Grove High School student who died Sunday as the result of a shooting incident in Allen County.
Grant Siefker, 15, was one of two area teenagers who were victims of gun-related mishaps in the area on Sunday. A Wapakoneta teen, Ayden Moorman, was seriously injured in what police are calling a shooting incident that is not believed to include foul play. Moorman’s death was announced Tuesday. No funeral arrangements have been announced.
The Columbus Grove and Wapakoneta communities have bonded on Facebook in support of Siefker as well as Moorman. The Ottawa-Glandorf High School Facebook page asks residents of Putnam and Auglaize counties to “come together in a sea of red to honor and remember Grant Siefker, a Columbus Grove student whose life was tragically lost, and a student from Wapak (Moorman) who was also in a tragic accident. As we wear red, let it symbolize the love and support we send to both families and all those touched by these heartbreaking events.”
According to a statement released Tuesday by the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday to a residence in the 11000 block of Slabtown Road in reference to a shooting. Members of the Putnam County EMS were already on scene performing live-saving procedures on a 15-year-old male. The victim, subsequently identified as Siefker, was taken to an area hospital where he died from his injuries.
The property is owned by Bryan and Kate Blue. An obituary for Siefker lists Kate Blue as his aunt.
Another 15-year-old male was taken into custody at the shooting scene and is being held at the Allen County Juvenile Detention Center in connection with the incident. The victim and the suspect are family members and the actions that led to the shooting, which has been described as “likely unintentional,” are still being investigated, according to a statement from Major Andre McConnahea of the Allen County Sheriff’s Office.
Visitation for Siefker is from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hartman Sons Funeral Home in Columbus Grove. His family requests visitors wear their favorite sports attire. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Columbus Grove. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
According to his obituary, Siefker was a Mass server at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 4-H member, Leo Club member and enjoyed playing football, basketball and running track for the Columbus Grove Bulldogs. “He was a quick-learner and loved every bit of farming and enjoyed hunting. Grant was also an OSU Buckeyes and a Houston Texans fan,” according to the obituary.
Donations may be made to the Columbus Grove Livestock 4-H Club.
