Republican Ohio senator and his wife are both accused of SHOOTING at teenager and his girlfriend ‘hunting on neighbor’s property after accusing them of trespassing’
A Republican senator from Ohio and his wife have been accused of shooting at two teenagers they spotted on their property in Columbiana County, but insist they shot into the ground.
Michael Rulli admits that on November 28, 2022, around 5:15 a.m., he shot his gun at what he believed were people trespassing on his land.
Rulli was outside his home in Salem, Ohio, with his dogs at the time when he heard rustling in nearby trees. He shouted, but there was no response, so he darted in the general direction of the sound.
But Hayden Cibula, 16, insists he was shot by Rulli even though he believed he was on land owned by Hayden’s uncle, Joe Kinirons, and thought he had permission to hunt.
A Republican senator and his wife from Ohio, Michael and Kelly Rulli, are accused of shooting a teenage boy and his girlfriend on their property
Hayden Cibulas and his family claim they were shot at. Hayden is pictured with his girlfriend
The special prosecutor ruled that Rulli’s actions were “reasonable” and that no charges were brought against him or Hayden, despite his findings that he committed violations.
Hayden talked about how he thought he was several hundred yards away from Rulli’s property at the time of the shooting, but the senator claims the distance was only 50 feet away.
Hayden also claimed that Rulli tried to shoot directly at him and his girlfriend, but Rulli claims he only shot at the ground.
Later that evening, around 7 p.m., similar circumstances occurred.
This time, Kelly Rulli, Michael’s wife, was outside and heard noises coming from the same area as that morning.
She allegedly fired a shot at Hayden and three other Cibula family members as they returned to retrieve their tree stands and hunting equipment.
The Cibulas dispute Rulli’s claim that they both fired into the ground as a warning shot and maintain that they were shot at. Kelly Rulli also claims she stood on her porch, not near where the Cibulas were walking.
A special prosecutor found the Rulli’s actions “reasonable” after they shot into the ground and gave verbal warnings
Rulli fired shots in the early morning and claimed Hayden Cibula, 16, pictured, had trespassed, but the teen insists he had permission to hunt on neighbours’ land
Special Prosecutor Jay Macejko found discrepancies in the accounts but concluded the Rullis’ actions were reasonable after highlighting how they shot into the ground and issued verbal warnings.
The prosecutor’s report emphasized the lack of credible evidence that the Rullis deliberately fired at the Cibulas.
No shell casings or bullets were found in either incident.
‘Mr. Rulli reported observing flashlights and hearing rustling on his property near a tree line,” the special counsel’s report said.
‘Mr. Rulli shouted at the individuals, but heard no response. Mr. Rulli reports that he returned the dogs to the house and left his home with a gun. He continued to shout and fired one shot into the ground.
“There is simply no credible evidence at the time of this investigation that any member of the Rulli family ‘shot at anyone,’” Macejko wrote.
Hayden Cibulas has expressed his frustration at being shot at by someone they believe was acting above the law
He concluded the Rullis’ actions were “reasonable,” saying they issued warnings and had a “subjective fear” at the time.
“While one should always exercise caution and confidence when discharging a firearm, in this case it is not unlawfully harassing or otherwise illegal to do so on the ground, even if unwise,” Macejko wrote.
Despite the discrepancies and the proximity of the hunting setup to the property line, the special prosecutor found the Rullis’ actions reasonable under the circumstances.
Despite no criminal charges being filed, both Hayden and Ashley Cibula remain adamant that the Rullis shot at them.
They claim they were on their uncle’s property, where they had permission to be, and that they were hundreds of meters away from the Rulli’s property. They say the Rulli’s actions were reckless.
“It was really reckless,” Hayden Cibula said cleveland.com. ‘There was no reason to shoot. He could have come down and talked to us. But there was no reason to shoot.”
Hayden insists that Rulli was “really trying to shoot us.”
A special prosecutor found variations in the accounts but concluded the Rullis’ actions were “reasonable” after highlighting how they shot into the ground and issuing verbal warnings.
‘Suddenly another gun is fired at us. She’s yelling, “Get off my property,” Ashley Cibula said of Ms. Rulli’s firing. ‘We were all shot at. Me, my husband and my two sons.
“We’re just normal citizens who were shot at by someone who thinks they’re above the law,” she said.
Rulli, meanwhile, has asserted his right to defend his property and family, noting that he has received similar threats in connection with his political work as an Ohio state senator since winning his seat in 2018.
“No one was injured and the incident was fully investigated by a special prosecutor from outside the province, who found there were no grounds to file charges,” Rulli said.
“It is my God-given right to defend my property and family, and I will continue to advocate for that.”
Both families are upset following the incidents in which the Cibulas expressed frustration over their belief that Rulli was acting above the law.