A Man Has Been Fatally Shot During Linkin Park Karaoke Night

Last Friday night in Buckeye Lake Ohio, Benjamin “Donkey” Hawk attended a karaoke event at Louie’s Corner House alongside his girlfriend.

Tragically he would would lose his life while singing Linkin Park’s “One More Light,” a song about loss and remembrance. A 59‑year‑old man identified as Richard Lindgren allegedly later walked in and shot Hawk in the back of the head according to Loudwire and the Licking County Sheriff’s Office.

The chilling moment unfolded without warning as the DJ later recounted to ABC 6 that there was no confrontation or shouting beforehand; the shooter fired, looked at his victim, and exited the bar as composed as ever, placing his weapon into his pocket before disappearing into the night.

Eyewitnesses revealed that Lindgren was reportedly the ex‑husband of Hawk’s girlfriend and the DJ admitted he had previously overheard Lindgren hurl hateful insults at her during karaoke nights, prompting him to warn Lindgren two weeks earlier that such behaviour would not be tolerated. Yet nothing seemed to foreshadow the tragedy that followed. Authorities later discovered Lindgren in South Carolina and took him into custody on July 12, awaiting extradition back to Ohio while charges remain pending.

The community has rallied in the wake of this heartbreaking event, launching a GoFundMe to support Hawk’s two young daughters as they plan for funerals and adjust to life without their father. Hawk’s brother David described him to The Columbus Dispatch as a “rising voice” who used karaoke not only to entertain but to share his emotions with everyone around him, and added that his generosity left a lasting mark even when it meant sacrificing for others.

As the investigation proceeds, the haunting reality remains that Hawk died expressing himself through music onstage, transforming what should have been a joyful night into a nightmare. His memory lives on through his daughters and the many lives he touched by sharing his voice. In a world where evening entertainment should never end in tragedy, the community’s response stands as a testament to his impact and their determination to support his family now.