A 31-year-old Ohio father is accused of shooting a man he allegedly lured to his home by pretending to be his 11-year-old daughter on TikTok. Malik Chandler, from Grove City, Ohio, faces charges after the July 16 shooting.
Diego Montoya Gonzalez, the alleged victim, suffered two gunshot wounds and was taken to a nearby hospital. He was later arrested and charged with rape, pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, and obstructing official business, according to the New York Post. He pleaded not guilty in a Franklin County Common Pleas Court and was given a $20,000 recognizance bond and a $50,000 cash bond.
Background of the case
Police were already involved with Chandler's family after they reported that their 11-year-old daughter had been raped. Footage on the daughter's phone, found on July 15, showed the alleged assault. However, Chandler allegedly decided not to wait for police and took matters into his own hands.
According to police, Chandler pretended to be his daughter to contact Gonzalez, who he suspected was involved in the assault. In court documents seen by the Mirror US, Chandler said he wanted to lure Montoya into his home and beat him up until police arrived. But he claims Montoya reached for his pocket when he arrived, and Chandler believed he had a gun. The father then shot him twice.
Aftermath and legal proceedings
When police arrived, they found Montoya injured while sitting in a chair. He was transported to Grant Medical Center in Columbus. Chandler was taken to the Grove City Police Department facility, where he told detectives about the alleged sexual assault.
Court records show that Chandler has a criminal history. He was charged in 2021 with strangling his girlfriend until she lost consciousness, but that charge was dismissed. In 2017, he was also convicted of attempted breaking and entering. However, because that is considered a misdemeanour in Ohio, he was still allowed to carry a firearm.
Chandler is being held on a $100,000 bond. He last appeared in court on July 24.
