Hope man accused of murder in Jackson County

Press Release

Tobias Au, 30, of Hope was arrested Wednesday for murder in Jackson County.  

At 5:37 a.m. Wednesday the Jackson County Sheriff's Department received a report of a shooting at 2710 Bent Tree Lane Apt 103 from Au. He told dispatchers that a subject was deceased.

The deceased victim was identified as Ryan J. Ross, 28, of Jennings County. Ross had arrived at this residence not long before the shooting. He knocked on the door and was let inside the residence by the homeowner, Dakota Anderson. While Ross was inside standing by the door, the suspect, Au, allegedly shot Ross several times.

The reason for the shooting is still being investigated. A protective order was in place since January for Ross to stay away from the homeowner. Ross and Anderson have a child together. Anderson has been allowing Ross to come over recently and to exchange their child from this residence. Au was currently in a relationship with Anderson. Neither Ross nor Au lived at the Bent Tree Lane address. 

Anderson and Au were both transported to the Jackson County Sheriff's Department so detectives could interview them about the incident. After both interviews were completed and the crime scene technicians on scene compared notes, Au was arrested for murder. 

There were two adults and two children inside the residence when the shooting occurred.

An outside forensic pathologist will perform an autopsy in the next few days.