Billy Grooms, 49, was fatally injured after police say a man drove over him while leaving the scene.
HILLSBORO, OH — A 49-year-old Hillsboro man died after police say he tried to stop a woman from being strangled and beaten at a gas station early Sunday, May 31.
Billy Grooms, a father of three, was with his son at a South High Street gas station when the attack unfolded, according to police and court records. The case has drawn local grief and attention because investigators say Grooms was trying to protect a woman he did not know when he was run over by a pickup truck. Javen Meadows, 22, has been charged with strangulation and assault, with more charges pending after Grooms’ death.
The confrontation began just after 2:30 a.m. at the Holtfield gas station on South High Street, according to an affidavit filed in Hillsboro Municipal Court. Investigators said Meadows drove into the lot in a Ford F-150 and struck another truck before parking. Court records said he then got out, went to the truck he had hit, grabbed a woman by the neck and threw her to the ground. Police said he kicked her, took her phone after she stood up and then punched her to the ground. Angela Osborn, Grooms’ sister-in-law, said Grooms saw the attack and moved toward Meadows. “He went to intervene and asked the boy to let her go,” Osborn said.
Police said Meadows then got back into the Ford F-150 and drove over Grooms as he tried to intervene. Grooms was airlifted to a hospital with severe head trauma, multiple broken bones and a traumatic brain injury, his family said. Amy Grooms, his wife, said the truck came straight at her husband. “He just went straight towards my husband and hit him and dragged him,” she said. Family members said doctors told them Grooms had only a small chance of surviving. He was removed from life support on June 4 after his condition declined. The woman who was attacked later said she believed Grooms saved her life.
Court records said Meadows had followed his ex-girlfriend to the gas station before the attack. Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether the woman who was strangled was his ex-girlfriend. Police have described the woman as a victim in the assault case, and records said she was grabbed by the neck, thrown down, kicked and punched. The same affidavit said Meadows left the scene after running over Grooms. The case moved from an assault investigation to a death investigation after Grooms died at the hospital. Investigators have not released all video, witness statements or medical findings tied to the case.
Grooms’ family described him as a man who often helped others and said his final act fit the way he lived. Relatives said he was a father of three and was known in the community as someone who would step forward when another person was in danger. His family also said his organs were to be donated after his death. Osborn said the donation would allow him to keep helping people after his fatal injuries. “He has just been that person to save as many people as he can,” she said. Friends and relatives gathered to remember him as the investigation continued.
Meadows was charged with strangulation and assault in the attack on the woman, according to court records. Police said additional charges connected to Grooms’ death were pending as investigators reviewed the case. It was not immediately clear from the available records whether Meadows had entered a plea or whether an attorney had commented on his behalf. The next legal steps are expected to depend on the police investigation, the final medical findings and any charging decision by prosecutors. The case remains in Hillsboro Municipal Court as authorities continue gathering evidence.
The woman who survived the attack called Grooms a hero and said his actions changed the outcome of the assault. “I believe his actions saved my life,” she said. “I’ll carry that gratitude with me forever.” Family members said they were still trying to understand how a routine stop at a gas station ended with Grooms fatally injured. Amy Grooms said relatives held onto hope while doctors tried to reduce the swelling from his brain injury, but his condition worsened over several days. The family said grief over his death has been mixed with pride in what he did.
As of Sunday, June 7, Meadows faced charges in the attack on the woman, and police said more charges were pending in Grooms’ death. The next milestone is the prosecutor’s charging decision after investigators finish reviewing the fatal injuries and evidence from the gas station.
Author note: Last updated June 7, 2026.