AKRON, Ohio – A man convicted of the shooting death of a woman at a bar in Goodyear Heights in April will spend between 20 and 25½ years in prison with no chance for early release. Aaron Ridenour, 29, faced sentencing on Tuesday for the shooting death of 44-year-old Tiffany Ross. Ridenour pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree misdemeanor with a three-year gun specification, and tampering with evidence and illegal possession of a firearm in a liquor premises, both third-degree felonies. As part of his sentence, he will also have a minimum of two years probation following release.

Summit County Common Pleas Judge Christine Croce explained that Ridenour could serve more time depending on his conduct while incarcerated. Ridenour shot Ross inside the Heights Bar and Grill in the 1300 block of Newton Street in Akron’s Goodyear Heights neighborhood. Police responded to the bar at about 1:10 a.m. on April 8 and found Ross with a single gunshot wound to the face.

Before sentencing, Assistant Summit County Prosecutor Felicia Easter read from Ridenour’s statement, where he claimed the shooting was an accident after he twirled the double-action revolver around his finger. Easter questioned why he decided to twirl the gun if he knew about gun safety and why he fled the scene and disposed of the weapon. Police said they identified Ridenour as a suspect and searched several locations before finding him hiding in the back of a pickup truck on Rhodes Avenue. He was taken into custody without incident.

Before he was sentenced, Ridenour told the court he did not mean for the shooting to happen, echoing how much Ross meant to him. Croce read a statement written by Ross’ older sister, who said Ridenour is taking the easy way out by taking a plea. “There are so many questions left unanswered,” Croce said, reading the statement.