HARRISON TWP. — Charges previously filed in connection to the shooting death of a man in Harrison Twp. have been dropped.
An Oct. 2 court filing in Vandalia Municipal Court shows that a charge of tampering with evidence filed against Joseph Flippo was “dismissed without prejudice.” It had been the only charge he was facing.
>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Man facing charges after man shot, killed in front of grandchildren
Fippo had been charged on Sept. 26, two days after the shooting death of John Barnett.
As News Center 7 previously reported, Flippo has been accused of shooting and killing Barnett in front of his grandchildren on Ontario Avenue.
Montgomery County Sheriff Rob Streck previously told News Center 7 that a man, identified in court documents as Flippo, went to a home and asked for another man who was not there. Barnett’s grandsons, who were 15 and 20 years old, couldn’t calm him down, so Barnett went over to de-escalate the situation. Flippo then allegedly pulled out a gun and shot him in front of his grandsons and neighbors.
Flippo allegedly shot him twice, according to an affidavit and statement of facts filed in Vandalia Municipal Court.
>> RELATED: Grandfather killed trying to protect grandchildren in Montgomery County
When deputies arrived on the scene, they found Barnett shot in a driveway. They performed life-saving measures, but he ultimately died from his injuries.
After running from the scene, Flippo was later found while trying to hide in a brush line.
The sheriff’s office previously said more charges could be filed against Flippo. We’re working to learn more about if any charges will be refiled in the future.