BATAVIA TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A Batavia Township man is being held in the Clermont County Jail without bond after being accused of shooting a man in the leg during a confrontation on July 16, the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office said.
Nathaniel Lee, 37, was charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and endangering children, a first-degree misdemeanor, in connection with the shooting in the 100 block of Sweetbriar Drive, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies were dispatched to the street at 11:05 p.m. July 16 for a reported shooting, the sheriff’s office said. A 911 caller told the Clermont County Communications Center that a 40-year-old man had been shot and that the suspect had fled.
Deputies found the victim with a gunshot wound to his left leg, the sheriff’s office said. He was taken to Clermont Mercy Hospital by Central Joint Fire and EMS and treated for an injury that was not life-threatening.
Detectives identified Lee as the suspect after reviewing surveillance video from the area and witness statements, according to the sheriff’s office. The video also showed the suspect’s vehicle, a white Honda Accord, and a witness saw it leave the scene and drive directly to a home in the 300 block of Shannon Circle, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies established a perimeter around the Shannon Circle residence and requested the county’s Special Weapons and Tactics team, the sheriff’s office said. The home’s occupants began coming out before the SWAT team arrived, and Lee was taken into custody without incident.
In a statement to detectives, Lee said he had confronted the victim over comments the victim allegedly made to a family member, according to the sheriff’s office. Lee claimed that during the confrontation the victim reached into the vehicle, causing his .38-caliber handgun to fall and discharge, the sheriff’s office said. Lee also admitted he was carrying a .308-caliber rifle during the confrontation, the sheriff’s office said.
Lee was scheduled to appear for a bond hearing at 10 a.m. July 17 at Clermont County Municipal Court, the sheriff’s office said. Additional questions about the case should be directed to the Clermont County Prosecutor’s Office.
Suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office.