Ohio Man Arrested for Shooting After Ding Dong Ditch Incident

An Ohio man was taken into custody on Saturday after allegedly firing several shots at a vehicle occupied by teenagers, following a “ding dong ditch” prank at his Greene Township home. Reports indicate that police found a semi-automatic handgun, along with shell casings and a green laser, inside 33-year-old Yarvis Godfrey’s residence on Starview Drive.

According to an affidavit, no one was injured in the incident, but shots did hit the vehicle as the teens were trying to leave the scene. Godfrey is facing felony charges that include unlawfully discharging a firearm near a residence or school, and discharging a firearm on prohibited premises.

Reports suggest that the four boys admitted they went to the house to “drain the water,” which seems like a euphemism for their prank, before banging on the front door and running back to their car. A neighbor mentioned seeing footprints leading up to Godfrey’s door, hinting that there might have been a more aggressive knock than typically anticipated.

After the boys drove to a nearby cul-de-sac, they returned to the street and were met by Godfrey, who reportedly wielded a gun with a green laser. The group told officers that Godfrey fired multiple shots as they fled once again into a different cul-de-sac.

As police approached, Godfrey came out to confront them. Officers later discovered one bullet hole in the trunk of the boys’ car, as well as two additional holes in nearby homes. A .45-caliber shell casing was also found in front of Godfrey’s house.

Prosecutors remarked in court that Godfrey’s response was “completely disproportionate,” asserting that a firearm was an excessive reaction for a prank. His bail was set at $80,000, and a firearms prohibition was placed on his bail conditions, forbidding him from having any contact with the boys involved.

During the arraignment, Godfrey’s attorney stated that he did not know the boys personally, although the prosecution claimed there was a connection, as one of the boys supposedly knew Godfrey’s child who resides there.

While Godfrey was taken to the Hamilton County Justice Center, he was not listed on the facility’s inmate roster days after his arrest. The police confirmed that all the juveniles involved in this prank were charged with disorderly conduct.

A neighbor described Godfrey as a good person, expressing concern for his family and stating that he shouldn’t be undergoing this ordeal. The neighbor added that Godfrey had previously experienced similar pranks, suggesting that this incident may not have been an isolated case.