UPDATE: Suspect Identified in Madison Township Stabbing; Victim Airlifted to Cleveland Hospital
MADISON TOWNSHIP — The Richland County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect in Tuesday afternoon’s felonious assault on North McElroy Road as Zachary Michael Zeiter, according to an updated news release from Sheriff J. Steve Sheldon.
Zeiter remains at large and should be considered dangerous, authorities said.
The Sheriff’s Office has obtained an arrest warrant charging Zeiter with felonious assault and is actively attempting to locate him. Anyone with information regarding Zeiter’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center by calling 419-524-2412, prompt #1.
Investigators confirmed the victim sustained multiple stab wounds during the incident. After initially being transported to a local hospital, the victim was later airlifted by medical helicopter to a Cleveland-area hospital, where they are reported to be in stable condition.
The stabbing occurred around noon on December 17, 2025, in the 400 block of North McElroy Road. As previously reported, deputies were unable to locate the suspect when they arrived at the scene, prompting an extensive search involving the Richland County Fugitive Task Force.
As a precaution, Madison High School and Madison Junior High School were placed on a soft lockdown during the law enforcement response to ensure the safety of students and staff.
The investigation remains ongoing. The Richland County Sheriff’s Office stated that additional updates will be released as more information becomes available.
Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and immediately report any information related to this incident to law enforcement.
