An 18-year-old Northwood man was charged with reckless homicide Saturday after a 15-year-old girl was shot and killed inside a Northwood apartment late Friday, authorities said. The girl, Symini Rai Moore, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police identified the suspect as Jakob Heintzelman, who was taken into custody the next morning as detectives began interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence. The shooting has rattled Woodville and nearby communities where Moore was known as an honor student and multi-sport participant at Woodmore High School. Investigators say the case remains active as they review statements, forensic findings and the handling of the firearm. A judge has since set bond and placed conditions on any release while prosecutors weigh additional findings that could shape how the case proceeds in Wood County court.
Officers were called to the apartment on Jan. 23 and found Moore with a gunshot wound, according to police. She did not survive. Heintzelman told investigators the weapon discharged while he was cleaning it, police said. Four people were inside the unit at the time — Moore, Heintzelman, his girlfriend and another male — and detectives interviewed those present as part of the initial inquiry. By early Saturday, Heintzelman was under arrest on one count of reckless homicide. “If you ever met Symini Rai Moore, you remember her smile,” a family fundraiser page said, describing the sophomore as kind and quick to help others.
Authorities said the shooting occurred in Northwood but that Lake Township police took the lead on the investigation because of agency agreements in the area. Police Chief Mark Hummer said interviews were conducted with everyone who was inside the apartment. Court documents show Heintzelman faces a single reckless homicide charge tied to the fatal discharge of the firearm. At a first court appearance this week, a judge set bond at $75,000 and ordered electronic monitoring if he is released, according to records. Officials have not publicly detailed the gun’s make, whether it was registered, who owned it, or the precise trajectory that led to the fatal wound. An autopsy and ballistics review remain part of the case file. Detectives have not announced additional arrests.
Moore was a sophomore at Woodmore High School, where she participated in cheerleading, basketball, track, volleyball, wrestling, Future Farmers of America and choir, according to school and family statements. She also worked at her family’s Woodville restaurant, Granny’s Kitchen. Community members left flowers and notes, and former coaches and teammates shared memories of her work ethic and steady presence at practices and games. The Lake Township–Northwood area sits southeast of Toledo, with students from small towns often traveling between communities for school, jobs and youth sports, underscoring how the loss has been felt across district lines.
After Saturday’s arrest, the case moved into routine steps: booking, initial appearance and bond review. Prosecutors will decide whether to seek additional counts once lab reports and witness statements are complete. Court officials said a preliminary hearing is expected as early as next week, though a date was not available Wednesday. If bound over, the case would proceed to a Wood County grand jury. Police said they plan to release an update once the autopsy and the firearm examination are finished. School leaders said counselors remain available to students as the district plans a remembrance with the family’s input.
Outside the school, students left purple ribbons on a fence and wrote notes on poster boards near the gym entrance. “She made everyone feel welcome,” a former cheer coach said, recalling Moore’s habit of checking on younger athletes during practices. A classmate described a bustling lunch line at Granny’s Kitchen over the weekend as regulars stopped to hug relatives and trade stories. The restaurant’s windows displayed a photo collage of Moore with friends in uniforms from multiple seasons. A neighbor in the Northwood complex said residents gathered quietly near the courtyard after police left, sharing prayers and placing a single bouquet on the stairs to the second-floor unit.
As of Thursday, Heintzelman remained charged with one count of reckless homicide while investigators continued to review evidence and witness accounts. Officials said the next courtroom milestone is an expected preliminary hearing, with the date to be set on the court calendar.
Author note: Last updated January 29, 2026.