A chaotic early-morning call in Lucasville sent deputies racing across multiple streets after a homeowner reported firing a gun at a man who had come onto his porch and allegedly charged him with a weapon.
Just after 6 a.m., a Lucasville resident called 911 saying a shirtless man came onto his porch, and he had shot at him. The caller told dispatch the man claimed he’d been shot, then ran into a neighboring yard. He said the man was acting erratically and had come at him with a club.
According to the caller, the man dropped the object—later described as a PVC pipe—and ran toward the corner of Oakwood and Scioto Street, heading in the direction of a gravel pit.
Fast-Moving, Conflicting Updates
Over the next several minutes, dispatch relayed a rapid series of updates from the caller:
- The man was seen in the 200 block of Scioto Street, allegedly trying to get into other homes
- He was later reported hiding behind a trailer
- The caller said his firearm was holstered after the encounter
- Moments later, the man was seen running down Oakwood, and the caller reported hearing a window break
- A new description followed: blue shirt, blue jeans, short hair, glasses
Deputies rushed to the area, and dispatch placed an ambulance on standby.
When officers arrived, the caller clarified he had fired toward the ground, saying he did so when the man charged at him with the PVC pipe.
Suspect Located—No Gunshot Victim
Around 6:39 a.m., deputies reported they had a man detained near Oakwood and Scioto Street and requested a transport unit. Officers confirmed that no one had been shot, despite the earlier claims.
Deputies checked the caller’s firearm and found no issues with the weapon.
Police arrested Ronald Terry and booked him into the Scioto County Jail on charges of aggravated menacing and criminal trespass.
Court Appearance
Terry later appeared in Portsmouth Municipal Court, where he was released on his own recognizance. A hearing is scheduled for February 9.
Court records show Terry has prior arrests for felonious assault.