The Scioto County Grand Jury indicted 18-year-old Johah Lawwill on charges of attempted aggravated murder, six counts of felonious assault, two counts of improperly handling a firearm in a vehicle, and for improperly discharging a firearm into a home. These charges stem from a shooting incident back on August 19, and prosecutors say it all happened because Lawwill is a member of a criminal gang.
However, Lawwill’s family maintains that he is innocent. HIs sister started a GoFundMe called “Help Jonah Overcome Wrongful Accusations.” So far that campiagn has raised $50 of its inteded $10,000 goal. “My brother Jonah lawwill is being wrongfully accused of something he didn’t do. Something he didn’t commit. I ask you to have a change of heart and see it from a parents,sibling,friend, uncle point of view. He’s never been in any type of trouble. No criminal background or nothing. Still in school soon to graduate. Has his full life ahead of him. This isn’t right and he doesn’t deserve to do time for somebody else’s actions.” His sister expressed concerns that her brother’s Type 1 diabetes would not be properly treated in jail.
A woman identifying herself as Lawwill’s mother furiously defended him in a Facebook post:
“To ANYONE and EVERYONE that says ANYTHING bout JONAH LAWWILL being a SNITCH jus know that my SON IS Not cut from the same FLIPPING TREES you all were he is the REALEST MAN I KNOW and if the word SNITCH COMES OUT YOUR MOUTH ABOUT HIM it’s BECAUSE YOU are the REAL SNITCH I mean make it make SENSE he’s still in JAIL for some stuff he didn’t do still in a NASTY BOOKING CELL why you are ALL OUT QUESTIONING what my SONS DOING MAKE THAT MAKE SENSE!!! ITS OK THOUGH GOD SEES ALL UGLY and with every BREATH I TAKE I’m gonna make sure he FONT GO DOWN FOR YOUR BULLCRAP PROMISE THAT!!!! REAP WHAT YOU SOW!!!!
The indictment did not give any further details about the shooting, but SCDN did report on an August 19 drive-by shooting into a West Portsmouth home. Callers said someone fired shots in their neighborhood before speeding off in a car. Deputies spoke with witnesses who said they saw a white Dodge Charger speed off. They also discovered spent shell casings in the road.
Officers viewed a security video that confirmed the car’s description and alerted PPD and OSP to be on the lookout for it.