Akron experienced an unusual warm spell earlier this month when Homeland Security investigator Matthew Langille visited the corporate headquarters of Goodyear Tire & Rubber to meet with the company’s principal engineer during that time.
Eric Nshimiye, who had been employed at Goodyear in Ohio for 23 years, started working at the company right after graduating from the University of Dayton with a degree in electrical engineering. His journey to the United States began five years earlier when he sought refuge from the conflict in Rwanda.
On March 11, Langille engaged Nshimiye, now a suburban father of four known for his amiable nature and community involvement, in a series of inquiries. The federal agent delved into Nshimiye’s immigration to the United States and his political affiliations before and during the Rwandan genocide, a period marked by the systematic targeting and massacre of Tutsis by Hutu extremists.
Despite Nshimiye’s initial response of shaking his head, nervously laughing, and requesting water when questioned about his involvement in the genocide, Langille persisted. Nshimiye denied any participation in the atrocities, which led to his subsequent arrest and a slew of charges including falsification, obstruction of justice, and perjury.
Accusations against Nshimiye paint a starkly different picture of a man leading a double life as a war criminal, implicated in orchestrating the deaths of numerous individuals. The allegations include his active role in identifying Tutsis for execution, as well as his direct involvement in brutal killings, such as the murder of a 14-year-old boy and his mother.
Nshimiye, also known as Eric Tabaro Nshimiyimana, faces a litany of charges related to concealing his past and providing false testimony, not only in his own case but also in defense of a convicted genocide perpetrator from Rwanda. The shocking revelations have left his neighbors in disbelief, as they struggle to reconcile the accusations with the friendly family man they thought they knew.
Despite his outward persona as a respected engineer and community member, court documents reveal a chilling past of political involvement and violence during the Rwandan genocide. Nshimiye’s alleged actions as a student at the University of Rwanda, where he actively participated in the genocidal activities of the ruling party, paint a disturbing picture of his past.
Nshimiye’s journey to the United States, under the guise of a refugee seeking safety, was marked by deceit and omission of his involvement in heinous crimes. His subsequent integration into American society, including his career advancement and family life in Ohio, stands in stark contrast to the atrocities he is accused of committing in Rwanda.
As the legal proceedings unfold, those who have known Nshimiye for years are grappling with the incongruity between the man they thought they knew and the allegations that have surfaced. Goodyear, his longtime employer, has expressed deep concern over the charges, emphasizing their cooperation with the authorities in the investigation.
While the legal implications of the charges against Nshimiye unfold, the community in Ohio is left to ponder the complexities of a man whose past actions stand in stark contrast to the persona he presented in their midst.