Dec. 20 – A grand jury indicted a Springfield man in a shooting on US 35 in Dayton that allegedly resulted from a social media tip about a stolen vehicle that led to a stakeout in Trotwood.
Mark N. Messer, 36, faces two counts of assault and one count of discharging a firearm on or near restricted areas in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.
He will be arraigned on December 24.
A 67-year-old man unrelated to the theft reportedly suffered non-life-threatening projectile injuries during the shooting.
Around Dec. 10, Messer drove to Trotwood after receiving information through social media that his stolen car might be at a home in Trotwood, Dayton police Maj. Brian Johns said previously.
He brought two women and kept watch outside. When a 67-year-old man left the house, they followed him.
There was a disturbance on US 35 East near Liscum Drive and police say Messer shot into the vehicle leaving Trotwood.
“The driver of that vehicle was a 67-year-old male who was not involved in anything related to the suspect’s stolen vehicle,” Johns said. “He was hit by the bullet and had some damage to his hand and face, but luckily he survived the incident.”
A witness reportedly rammed Messer’s vehicle in an attempt to thwart his attempts to shoot the 67-year-old man.
“(The witness) said he followed the suspect vehicle until police stopped it,” according to Dayton Municipal Court documents.
Messer was taken into custody on State Route 4 near Stanley Avenue.
A handgun and a shotgun were recovered from the vehicle, Johns said.
He said it was fortunate that no one was killed during the incident.
“I know we have an increase in stolen cars in Dayton and throughout the Miami Valley, but at least make sure you call the police and have them follow up on that information,” Johns said. “You can’t rely on social media to be an accurate source.”
Messer is being held in the Montgomery County Jail. His bond was previously set at $100,000 by municipal court.
