Charges dropped in connection to deadly shooting of grandfather in Harrison Twp.

Charges have been dismissed in connection to a shooting that killed a grandfather who was reportedly trying to diffuse an argument in Harrison Twp.

Joseph Anthony Flippo, 31, was initially charged with one count of tampering with evidence in Vandalia Municipal Court in September.

The court docket was updated Oct. 2 to say the charge was dismissed without prejudice. This means that the case is dismissed temporarily and can be refiled, altered or brought before another court.

The charge was connected to a shooting reported around 7:25 p.m. Sept. 24 in the 1900 block of Ontario Avenue.

A man reportedly went to a house looking for another man. A 20-year-old man and 15-year-old boy who were at the home told him the other man wasn’t there, Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck said after the shooting.

“An argument of some sort began,” he said. “They decided that they would call their grandfather, who is our victim.”

John Barnett, 53, arrived and reportedly attempted to de-escalate the argument, but was shot. Deputies attempted life-saving measures, but Barnett was pronounced dead at the scene.

“This occurred in the view of his grandchildren and several neighbors that were outside on a nice night,” Streck said.

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