Nick Roach

Nicholas “Nick” J’Anthony Roach, a 31-year-old man remembered by friends as an all-around great person who would do anything for anyone, was born and raised in Lima, Ohio. A man of his word and a best friend to many, Nick attended Bath, Lima City, and Apollo schools. His life was tragically cut short on the night of November 26, 2024, leaving behind a grieving family and a community seeking answers.

The evening began to unfold around 10:40 p.m. when the Lima Police Department received a 911 call reporting a shooting at 438 South Kenilworth Avenue. When officers arrived at the residence, they found Nick Roach lying outside his home. He was suffering from a single, devastating gunshot wound to his abdomen. The patrol officers immediately began performing CPR, fighting to save his life until emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene.

Paramedics took over life-saving measures and rushed Nick to Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Medical Center. Despite the urgent efforts of first responders and hospital staff, he never regained consciousness. Nick Roach was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival, turning a late autumn night into a scene of loss and the beginning of a complex homicide investigation.

Detectives from the Lima Police Department, led by Detective Steve Stechschulte, immediately began pursuing several leads. Their investigation quickly led them to a person of interest: 43-year-old Javin Mayo, another Lima resident with a significant criminal history. Police learned that a vehicle linked to Mayo was present at the Gatehouse Apartments on North Cable Road. Believing Mayo was inside one of the units, detectives obtained a search warrant for the apartment, hoping to find both Mayo and evidence connected to Nick’s murder.

Because the apartment complex is located just outside city limits, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was called in to assist with the high-risk warrant service on December 1, 2024. Despite the tactical entry and thorough search of the apartment, authorities discovered that Mayo had left just before their arrival. He had successfully eluded capture, becoming a fugitive.

At the time he was named a person of interest, Mayo was under the supervision of the Ohio Adult Parole Authority. He had previously served prison time for 2021 charges of carrying a concealed weapon, having a weapon under disability, and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle. His criminal record also included a 2007 case involving charges of aggravated burglary and robbery.

In the days following the shooting, Nick Roach's family and friends gathered to celebrate his life. A service was held on December 13, 2024, at Hanneman-Siferd Funeral Home, followed by his interment at Woodlawn Cemetery. As of early December 2024, Javin Mayo remained at large, and the investigation into Nick Roach's death was ongoing. The Lima Police Department urged anyone with information about the incident or the whereabouts of Javin Mayo to contact them at 419-227-4444, Detective Steve Stechschulte at 419-221-5181, or CrimeStoppers at 419-229-7867.