He entered not guilty pleas for charges of attempted aggravated murder; aggravated robbery; and having weapons while under disability.
The judge set bond at $650,000 cash.
UPDATE @ 4:40 p.m. (Nov. 30)
Piqua police released details of their investigation so far regarding the shooting that happened Saturday on South Main Street.
Officers responded at approximately 5:46 p.m. to the report of someone with a gun and an injured person, according to the release.
Police said officers found 35-year-old Robert V. Smith unconscious and bleeding from a head wound.
Smith was eventually flown to Miami Valley Hospital, where he was released Sunday after being treated for blood loss, blunt force trauma and a gunshot wound, according to the release.
A few blocks away officers found 35-year-old James E. Wright, whom witnesses said was the suspect in the alleged assault, according to the release.
Police said the suspect and victim were friends. Investigators have learned that Wright wanted money from Smith and fired multiple shots during the attempted robbery, according to the release.
Police searched the Wayne Street home where the victim was found, and a garage in the 200 block of South Main Street where the incident is believed to have happened, according to the release.
The gun used in the alleged assault was recovered.
Wright was initially held on a parole violation, but has since been charged with attempted murder, aggravated robbery, and having weapons under disability, according to Piqua police.
The investigation is ongoing as Piqua police work to identify and question others who were involved.
UPDATE @ 8:30 p.m. (Nov. 29)
Piqua police have confirmed the identities of both the victim and person of interest in an assault involving a gun Saturday night.
Officer Bryan George with Piqua police said a person of interest, James Wright, 35 of Piqua, was currently being held in the Miami County Jail on a parole violation while detectives investigate his role in the incident. He is not currently facing any charges in connection to the incident, but George said has been identified by detectives as a person of interest in the case while his involvement is investigated.
The victim was identified as Robbie Smith, of Piqua, who at last check was at Miami Valley Hospital, but his condition was unknown. A call to officials at the hospital requesting a condition update has yet to be returned.
Police Sunday night called Smith’s injuries ‘consistent with being shot’ but hospital staff were not officially calling the injury a gunshot wound.
UPDATE @ 9:25 p.m.
Piqua police said they have a suspect in custody in an assault that seriously injured another man.
Deputy Chief Tom Steiner said units were dispatched to the 300 block of South Main Street around 5:45 p.m. Saturday on reports of a disturbance with shots fired.
Steiner said the victim was shortly found by crews with ‘wounds consistent with being shot.’ Police said hospital staff will not say directly if the wounds the victim received were from a bullet, but the injuries were sustained to the victim’s head.
The victim, identified as a 35 year-old Piqua man, was transported to Upper Valley Medical Center before being transported to Miami Valley Hospital by CareFlight. Steiner said the man remains unconscious in the hospital.
Police said they have a suspect in custody who they are questioning in the incident. Steiner said the suspect is a male Piqua resident, but other information on his identity was not available.
Investigators believe the suspect and victim know each other, but police are unsure what their relationship is. Officers also said both the victim and suspect are known by police.
Steiner said a weapon has not yet been recovered, but investigators are working on obtaining search warrants to search nearby properties.
UPDATE @ 7:50 p.m.
Neighbors have told our crew on the scene they heard an argument before at least one shot rang out in Piqua Saturday evening.
Jennifer Stratten said she was home with her children when the incident occurred behind her house.
“There was a lot of commotion, yelling, [and] arguing,” she said. “A couple of people ran from the back and then there was a gunshot.”
Investigators have yet to give an update on the status of their investigation and the condition of the victim is unknown.
FIRST REPORT
Piqua police and medics have responded to reports of at least one person shot in the 300 block of South Main Street.
Units were dispatched just before 6 p.m. Saturday on reports of a person injured in an assault. Reports indicated the victim of the assault had a gunshot wound to the head.
Off-duty officers and fire personnel have been called into the scene.
We have a crew heading to the scene and we’ll update this page when new information is available.