More than 14 years after a young man was gunned down during a Bible study in Canton, federal agents are raising the stakes to try to flush out new clues.
The U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have increased the reward for information in the 2011 killing of Dale A. Settle Jr. to $25,000, hoping the bigger payout will finally shake something loose in a case that has stubbornly stayed cold.
Agencies raise reward to $25,000
According to an ATF press release, ATF has bumped its share of the reward to $15,000, while the U.S. Marshals have added $10,000, bringing the combined total to $25,000.
"We remain committed to seeking justice for Dale Settle and providing answers for his family," ATF Special Agent in Charge Jorge A. Rosendo said in the release. Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fitzgibbon said the Marshals "stand with our partners" as the investigation grinds on.
What investigators say about the 2011 killing
According to the Ohio Attorney General's unsolved-homicides page, the case is listed at 614 Hazlett Avenue NW and records that the shooting happened on Sept. 22, 2011, during a Bible study. The entry identifies the victim as 22-year-old Dale A. Settle Jr. and lists the case number as 3804.
The state summary notes that a single suspect shot Settle and that he later died at a local hospital.
Local details and past reward
Local reporting by Cleveland 19 said witnesses recalled Settle holding his Bible when he was shot and noted he had been set to graduate from the University of Akron later that year.
The new $25,000 reward builds on an earlier ATF offer of $10,000 that was announced in late 2024, a move reported in coverage headlined ATF offered $10,000 reward.
How to submit tips
Anyone with information is asked to contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477), email [email protected], or send tips through the ReportIt app or at ReportIt.com, according to the ATF release. Investigators say even small details can sometimes crack a cold case open.
Canton Police Chief John Gabbard has publicly thanked ATF and the U.S. Marshals for their support and said detectives remain actively investigating the killing, according to local officials. For Settle's family and the wider Canton community, the larger reward represents a renewed push for answers after years of waiting.
