Villa Tavern Shooting: Suspect in Montgomery County Jail, awaiting Monday court date

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

UPDATE @ 3:33 a.m. (May 18):

Michael J. Prater of Dayton has been moved to the Montgomery County Jail, according to Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office records, which indicate he is due in court Monday.

Michael J. Prater (MONTGOMERY COUNTY JAIL)

icon to expand image

UPDATE @ 9:15 p.m. (May 17):

The suspect charged in the Wednesday night shooting at Villa Tavern in Huber Heights was arrested tonight by U.S. Marshals and other police agencies, Huber Heights police Sgt. Brian Carr said.

Michael J. Prater, 36, of Dayton is behind bars at the Tri-County Jail in Champaign County.

Michael J. Prater  

Credit: TRI-COUNTY JAIL

icon to expand image

Credit: TRI-COUNTY JAIL

An arrest warrant was issued earlier today after prosecutors approved eight counts of felonious assault in the shooting Wednesday night shooting at the Villa Tavern on Rip Rap Road in Huber Heights.

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Four of the felonious assault counts involve the use of a deadly weapon. Four of the felonious assault counts involve inflicting serious harm. Each of the counts includes a three-year firearm specification. That means Prater, if convicted as charged, could have three years added to any underlying sentence for each count.

INITIAL REPORT (May 15):

Three people who were shot Wednesday night in the shooting at The Villa Tavern on Rip Rap Road in Huber Heights have been taken to hospitals, Huber Heights Police Lt. Matt Dulaney said.

RELATED: 911 callers describe chaos as shooter fires into crowd at The Villa Tavern

Multiple police and medics were dispatched to the tavern, 6303 Rip Rap Road, just before 10 p.m.

>> Fire destroys family lawn equipment business

A fourth person not hit by gunfire, but who suffered an unspecified injury, also was taken to a hospital.

Michael J. Prater

icon to expand image

LOCAL WEATHER: Track the latest conditions with Live Doppler 7 Radar

The victims have been identified, although details of their injuries have not been released. Two of them have been taken to Miami Valley Hospital. The third was taken to Grandview Medical Center.

>> RELATED: Villa Tavern Shooting: Victims identified; 3 still in hospital

Dulaney said the investigation so far reveals that the shooter fired multiple times into a crowd listening to a live band outside the tavern. The gunfire erupted following some kind of disturbance, he said.

Police have no suspect or suspects, Dulaney said Wednesday night.

TRENDING: 2 ejected, 1 killed after rollover crash in Dayton

“There will be a lot of people to interview,” he said.

Dayton police were also on scene, helping with the investigation. A K-9 unit was on scene as well, looking for evidence in a grassy area near the business as well as on the property where the band had been performing.

Rip Rap Road, closed for the investigation, was reopened Thursday morning.

About the Author