On September 24, 2023, 53-year-old John Barnett of Dayton, Ohio, was fatally shot in Harrison Township. The incident occurred around 7:25 p.m. in the 1900 block of Ontario Avenue. Barnett had been called by his grandsons, aged 20 and 15, to help de-escalate an argument with a 31-year-old man who had come to their residence seeking another individual. Despite Barnett's efforts to calm the situation, the suspect drew a firearm and shot him in front of his grandsons and neighbors.
Deputies attempted life-saving measures, but Barnett was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect fled but was apprehended nearby shortly after the incident. He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on suspicion of murder. Sheriff Rob Streck described the event as "senseless gun violence" and noted that the suspect's dispute with others unnecessarily extended to Barnett and his grandsons.
Subsequently, 31-year-old Joseph Anthony Flippo was charged with tampering with evidence in connection to the shooting. However, on October 2, 2023, the charge was dismissed without prejudice, allowing for the possibility of future charges. As of now, no further charges have been reported, and the case remains under investigation.
