A 19-year-old man wanted for pelting four people with bird shot Sunday in East Columbus was arrested Wednesday after a two-day search.
Jerome Mitchell Jr., of 1408 17th Ave. N., was arrested at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at 109 Luxapalila Drive. He”s accused, along with another, unidentified suspect, of firing bird shot from a long-barreled gun at several people sitting and standing outside their homes in the 100 block of Beech Street at about 8 p.m. Sunday, said police Public Information Officer Terrie Songer.
Two women and two men were hit, although the bird shot only broke the skin of one of the men, Songer said. Police had initially reported, before finding the fourth victim, that three people were hit.
The victims declined medical transportation at the scene.
Shortly before the shooting, Mitchell and the other man had driven down the road and parked a motorcycle, the make and model of which are unknown, fired one shot and left, Songer said.
The attack sparked an intense search by the Columbus Police Department”s Criminal Investigation Division, Songer said. Police — who remain unsure what, if anything, provoked the attack — are still looking for the second suspect.
Mitchell, who had several run-ins with police in 2010, was charged Wednesday with four counts of aggravated assault and one count of burglary. His total bond was set at $1.5 million for all five counts.
As far as police know, the burglary was not connected with the shooting, Songer said.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the second suspect should contact the Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 800-530-8151. An anonymous tip that leads to an arrest could be worth up to $1,000.
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