David Johnson plans to argue self defense in his case dealing with firing a gun into a crowd.
Charlotte Caldwell | The Lima News
LIMA — A Lima man plans to argue self defense in his upcoming jury trial after he was charged with eight counts in the Allen County Common Pleas Court for firing a gun into a crowd.
David Johnson’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Stephen Chamberlain, filed a notice of self defense motion Monday where he identified 11 people who allegedly trespassed on Johnson’s property trying to commit serious harm June 8.
“All the while, defendant had no duty to retreat and therefore lawfully used force, up to and including deadly force in defense of himself, defense of other and defense of residence,” Chamberlain wrote.
The jury trial in the case is scheduled to begin Jan. 21.
Johnson, 42, is facing two counts of discharging a firearm on or near a prohibited premises, which are first- and second-degree felonies, and six second-degree felonious assault charges. Each charge carries a three-year firearm specification.
A previous news release from Lima Police Detective Steven Stechschulte said Lima police officers were dispatched to an ongoing dispute between two families June 8 and Johnson fired 12 shots at the crowd that was gathered in front of his house. Stechschulte said several shots hit a car parked in a travel lane and two shots struck pedestrians who were there because of the fight. The pedestrians had non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
“It should be noted that the vehicle and individuals struck by the bullets were approximately 25 yards away from where David Johnson was standing in the street when he shot at them,” Stechschulte wrote in the statement of facts that is provided in court documents.
Reach Charlotte Caldwell at 567-242-0451.
