A man who called 911 saying another man was pointing a gun at people at an Ohio Wal-Mart store could be prosecuted for making false alarms, a judge said Wednesday.
Fairborn Municipal Court Judge Beth Root said there’s probable cause to prosecute Ronald Ritchie in relation to the shooting death of John Crawford III.
Crawford was shot by police in an aisle of the Beavercreek Wal-Mart in 2014. He was holding a BB gun.
Nine affidavits filed by citizens were weighed prior to Judge Root’s ruling, reported WDTN. Other potential charges, including inducing panic and involuntary manslaughter, were dismissed as not having enough probable cause.
Surveillance footage from the store was also taken into account by Root.
Ritche made a call to 911, saying: “There is a man walking around in the store with a gun waving and pointing at people.”
Asked what the man looks like, Ritchie replied, “Black male about 6 feet tall.”
If charged, Ritchie will face the first-degree misdemeanor charge of making false alarms, which is punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Crawford, 22, wasn’t the only person who died--shopper Angela Williams, 37, suffered a heart attack while rushing out of the store after shots were fired by police.
One officer was cleared by a grand jury in the shooting, but remains on administrative duty as a Department of Justice civil rights investigation finishes up.
It’s unclear what’s going to happen next, reported WHIO. Root wasn’t available for comment after issuing the ruling.
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