Shot reportedly fired to break up fight at Ohio park wounds girl, 8

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man is facing a criminal charge after a warning shot he fired to break up a fight ended up wounding an 8-year-old girl, reports say.

Torrence Ahart, 28, of Reynoldsburg, has been charged with felonious assault following the shooting Saturday at Weinland Park in Columbus, WCMH Channel 4 reports. He is being held in the Franklin County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday.

Police tell WBNS Channel 10 that surveillance video shows two groups of females fighting at the park Saturday. Some of the females were armed with mace and knives, WBNS reports. Ahar said his 18-year-old sister was cut during the fight.

Ahart tells police he thought he had fired a shot into the air in an attempt to stop the fight, according to WBNS. He tells police that when he noticed the girl had been wounded, he gave her medical aid.

WCMH reports the girl was taken to Nationwide Children’s Hospital in critical condition, but it has been upgraded to stable condition.

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