TOLEDO, Ohio — A 21-year-old Toledo man is facing multiple charges after allegedly firing gunshots into a home in December 2023, resulting in a 5-year-old child being struck in the face. Xzavier Moore Rutherford was arrested late Friday night and charged with felonious assault and improper discharge of a firearm, according to police records and court documents.
The shooting occurred on Brussels Street, near Upton Avenue and West Sylvania Avenue, on the evening of Dec. 2023. Police responded to the scene after several gunshots were heard in the area. Upon arrival, officers discovered multiple shell casings outside the home and a child inside who had been injured by one of the bullets. The child, who was sitting on a couch at the time, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
Rutherford, who was identified as the shooter, was taken into custody on Friday night and booked into the Lucas County Jail. He is set to be arraigned in court on Monday.
The incident has sparked concern in the community as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Police said that at least 15 gunshots were fired in the area, heightening fears of escalating violence in the neighborhood.
Two other individuals, Christopher Riven Jr., 22, and Jasmine Lucas, 19, were previously sentenced for their roles in the shooting. Riven was sentenced on Dec. 11 to 30 months in prison for complicity to commit felonious assault and an additional 30 months for felonious assault. Riven, who was in the car during the incident, pleaded no contest to the charges.
Lucas was sentenced on Dec. 23 to two years of probation after pleading no contest to a charge of obstructing justice. Authorities did not elaborate on her specific involvement in the shooting.
The case has raised concerns about gun violence in Toledo and the safety of children caught in the crossfire of such incidents. As the legal proceedings continue, the community remains hopeful for justice and the child’s full recovery.