SALEM - Police are not ruling out homicide in the death of a Salem man last September.
Detective Dave Talbert said Arthur Gilmore, 62, 314 N. Broadway Ave., was pronounced dead at the hospital, but believed he was dead at the scene.
Police responded to a medical call on Sept. 26 and Gilmore was being treated and was on a breathing mechanism, Talbert said.
After speaking with the Columbiana County Coroner last week, Talbert, who has been involved in the case from the outset, said he was "treating the death as suspicious" and will continue interviewing witnesses.
"Homicide is not ruled out at this time, there are suspicious events surrounding his death," Talbert said, adding, "I've been involved since the beginning since foul play" may be involved, noting "when we got there, there were circumstances that were suspicious."
Salem firefighters responded to the address at 8:26 a.m. as first responders and cleared the scene at 8:42 a.m. Gilmore was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
Talbert declined to comment if theft, robbery or drugs were involved or if it domestic circumstances were suspected.
At least half a dozen witnesses have been interviewed, he said, explaining Gilmore came to Salem about a year ago from Youngstown for a better life with his two minor children. Talbert said Gilmore had served in U.S. Marine Corps and was a General Motors retiree. "He was a good guy and well liked," he said, "I just want to provide some closure for this family."
The last homicide in Salem occurred in 2004.
Larry Shields can be reached at lshields@salemnews.net
