GREEN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A Green Township man is facing multiple charges after he allegedly fired a gun at juveniles who "ding-dong-ditched" his home Saturday, according to Hamilton County court documents.
Yarvis Godfrey, 33, has been charged with felonious assault, improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation or school safety zone and discharge of a firearm on or near a prohibited premises.
According to an affidavit, Godfrey fired his firearm at a vehicle, which was inhabited by juveniles, fleeing from the 5200 block of Starvue Drive.
The juveniles told police that they'd gone to Starvue Drive to ding-dong-ditch the house. They said they banged on the residence's front door, fled back to their vehicle, drove to the cul-de-sac on Starvue Drive and turned around. While driving back up the street, passing the residence they'd ding-dong-ditched, the juveniles said they noticed a man with a firearm with a green light or laser near the street. The man, later identified as Godfrey, fired multiple shots at the juveniles in the vehicle.
Watch: Godfrey was in court Monday
After Godfrey fired the shots, the juveniles drove to the cul-de-sac on Berauer Road, where Godfrey followed them and confronted them while police arrived.
Officers at the scene located a bullet hole in the trunk of the juvenile's vehicle. They also found a second and third bullet hole in residences in the 6200 block of Berauer Road. A .45 caliber shell casing was also found in the roadway in front of Godfrey's home, according to the affidavit.
After obtaining a search warrant, officers located a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol with a green laser inside Godfrey's home.
Godfrey was taken into custody by Green Township police. According to court documents, Godfrey admitted to police that he fired at the vehicle but "attempted to take out the tire of the vehicle."
As a FedEx employee, Godfrey is not legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. Under Ohio’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which removes the duty to retreat for someone lawfully present, Godfrey told neighbors he believed someone was trying to break into his home.
Neighbors around Godfrey's home told us on Sunday they believe Godfrey saw the kids' actions as a threat to his family.
"I think they were concerned someone was trying to break in, and they have children, so of course they would be concerned about the welfare of their household," said Denise Snyder-Burton, who lives nearby.
Watch below as neighbors describe what they saw and heard:
During Godfrey’s arraignment on April 6, the prosecuting attorney said the juveniles knew one of his children who was inside the home.
Another neighbor told us they spoke with Godfrey on Saturday after the kids' prank.
"Woke up with gunshots, it was probably five or six gunshots, got up immediately came out of my house to check on my neighbors," said Brad Rhodenbaugh, who lives in the area. "I heard arguing, I went over to talk to them and they said someone just tried to break into their house."
In court Monday morning, Godfrey was given a $75,000 bond.
An update from Green Township police said the juveniles involved have also been charged with disorderly conduct.
