A karaoke night in Ohio ended in gunfire as a man singing a Linkin Park song was fatally shot.
Authorities say 59-year-old Richard Lindgren opened fire on his ex-wife’s new boyfriend while he was singing “One More Light,” the title track to Linkin Park’s 2017 album.
According to the Licking County Sheriff’s Office, Lindgren allegedly shot Benjamin ‘Donkey’ Hawk in the back of the head at Louie’s Corner House in Buckeye Lake, Ohio, on Friday, July 11.
No Warning, No Fight — Just a Gunshot
Hawk and Lindgren’s ex-wife had been dating for a few months and arrived at the bar together about an hour before Lindgren.
They were onstage mid-Linkin Park song when the gun went off.
“There was no confrontation, no shouting,” DJ Robert Humble told ABC 6. “He just walked in, shot him, and walked out.”
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After the shooting, witnesses claim Lindgren calmly pocketed the gun and exited the bar.
A History of Hate
According to the DJ, Lindgren’s bitterness had been building.
“I sometimes saw him blurt out hateful words when his ex got up to sing,” Humble shared.
He continued, “He’d call her names, bash her character. I told him two weeks ago — if he acted like that again, he wasn’t welcome.”
Arrested Across State Lines
Police tracked Lindgren to South Carolina, where he was arrested the next day. He is currently awaiting extradition back to Ohio.
As of now, it’s unclear whether he’s been formally charged or has retained an attorney.
Remembering Ben ‘Donkey’ Hawk
Friends say Hawk wasn’t just a karaoke regular he was a rising voice in the scene.
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“He was using karaoke to share his emotions with everybody else,” his brother David Hawk told The Columbus Dispatch.
IKF Karaoke Cup Ohio, part of a national competitive karaoke community, called him “a larger-than-life presence with the voice of an angel,” adding, “He never met a stranger — just people who didn’t know they were friends yet.”
A Family Left Behind
Hawk leaves behind two daughters. A GoFundMe has been launched to help with funeral expenses and long-term care for his kids.
“He always looked out for those around him,” his brother wrote. “Even if it meant he had to go without.”
More About Linkin Park’s “One More Light”
“One More Light” is a haunting ballad by Linkin Park, released in 2017 as the final single from their album of the same name.
It marked the last major release with two of the band’s longtime members — drummer and co-founder Rob Bourdon and frontman Chester Bennington — who died by suicide just two months after the song’s release.
“One More Light” became an emotional anthem for grief, resilience, and remembrance — now tragically linked to a moment of senseless violence.
Watch the Music Video for “One More Light”
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Entries written by Rabab Al-Sharif (RA) Chad Childers (CC), Joe DiVita (JD) and Lauryn Schaffner (LS).
Gallery Credit: Loudwire Staff
