Man shot in home invasion scam in Washington Twp.

WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County — Authorities are searching for two robbers who used a female accomplice to trick two men into letting her come to one of their homes to play cards Monday night.

Dr. Ihab Messiha, 37, was shot in the leg after the two robbers forced their way into his home at 431 W. Rahn Road, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

In the 911 call, Messihna’s friend, Wael W. Gendy, told a dispatcher: “Somebody came to our house and then shot my friend, the owner of the house, in his leg.”

When asked if he or Messiha knew the assailant, Gendy said: “No, but we know it’s connected to a girl that we know.”

According to police, Gendy said he met the woman at his workplace in Greenville on Monday. The woman told Gendy, 38, she was 18 and had a 3-year-old son.

Gendy said he and the woman sent each other text messages throughout the day. She asked Gendy “if he wanted to hang out with her tonight after work.”

He said the woman drove back to a store and left with Gendy in his car. After they went to a couple of grocery stores, Gendy took the woman to Messiha’s home.

While the three were playing cards, Messiha announced that the woman’s “friends” were outside his home.

Gendy told police he then saw two white males come into the backyard and enter through the sun room. They repeatedly asked Messiha and Gendy for their wallets and money. After the victims denied having money and wallets, one of the robbers shot Messiha.

The suspects fled and the woman “ran out the door with them.”

Messiha, a dentist who works in Beavercreek, was treated and released from Miami Valley Hospital on Tuesday.

Sheriff’s Capt. Dee Osterfeld said home invasions are uncommon for Washington Twp. in general, but noted that the department does not keep exact numbers on how often the crime occurs.

One robber wore a camel feather sweater, camouflage pants and a black ski mask. The second wore a black jacket, black sweater and blue jeans with black mask covering his face

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (937) 225-4357.

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