John L. Vance Jr., the suspect in the Muncie block party shooting, is now facing charges of aggravated battery, criminal recklessness, and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon. Although he is not currently charged with the killing, the prosecutor’s office plans to treat him as a habitual offender due to his prior felony convictions. Vance was arrested during a traffic stop and his bail has been set at $105,000. shooting-john-vance-indiana/531-d672b535-4c40-4ca1-8ffe-92309a458ca8″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>WTHR.com staff reported
John L. Vance Jr., aged 36, has been charged with aggravated battery, criminal recklessness, and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon in connection with the tragic mass shooting that occurred at a block party in Muncie. The suspect, who hails from Yorktown, is accused of inflicting serious harm on two individuals, but he is not currently facing charges for the death of Joseph Bonner, who was killed during the incident. However, due to Vance’s two prior felony convictions, the prosecutor’s office intends to pursue habitual offender status. Vance was apprehended on August 1 during a traffic stop, and his bail has been set at $105,000. According to court documents, witnesses who were shot stated that they saw Vance engaged in an argument with Bonner before the violence erupted. Further accounts indicate that Vance brandished a handgun and fired several shots before fleeing the scene. Both victims positively identified Vance and Bonner from photographs provided by the police. The block party, which took place in the early hours of Sunday, July 30, resulted in 17 individuals sustaining injuries from gunshots and one person being struck by a vehicle while attempting to flee. At present, seven individuals remain hospitalized, with three in stable condition in both Indianapolis and Muncie. The city granted an exemption to the party organizers for a maximum of 75 attendees, but estimates suggest that between 500 and 1,000 people actually attended the event. Despite attempts to contact the owner and shut down the party, the police were unsuccessful in doing so. Vance’s criminal history includes convictions for domestic battery, cocaine dealing, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, and battery causing bodily harm. The prosecutor is seeking habitual offender status based on these convictions. As of now, a court date for Vance has not been scheduled..
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