Bainbridge Township police arrested a South Russell Village man after a shooting at Centerville Mills Park April 21.
Bainbridge Township police arrested a South Russell Village man after a shooting at Centerville Mills Park April 21.
Emmanuel John Mathews, 80, is accused of shooting a 55-year-old Auburn Township, said Bainbridge Police Chief Jon Bokovitz in a press release.
Bokovitz initially said the victim was shot in the hip, but the victim’s wife said in a follow-up interview her husband was shot in the back, with injuries affecting his spine and bowel area.
The victim also allegedly had a gun and fired back at Mathews, but missed him, the chief confirmed in a follow-up interview.
The victim underwent life-saving abdominal surgery that evening, his wife said, adding he remains hospitalized at Cleveland Clinic Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights and may require spinal surgery.
“He almost died,” she said.
The victim’s wife said the shooting followed a political exchange between the men at the park. She said Mathews, who is white, shot her husband, who is Black, in the back as he was placing his dog into the vehicle.
She said Mathews and another man were sitting together at the park reading a newspaper and discussing President Donald Trump when her husband interjected.
Bokovitz confirmed the victim is Black, but declined to confirm whether the incident was politically motivated.
A Bainbridge police officer later stopped a vehicle driven by Mathews, Bokovitz said in the press release, adding he was taken into custody and a firearm was reportedly recovered.
Mathews was charged with felonious assault, a second-degree felony, according to Chardon Municipal Court records.
“This male was given medical treatment by Bainbridge police officers and treatment was continued by Bainbridge Township Fire Department,” the chief said in the release. “BTFD continued treatment and transported the male to a local trauma center.”
Mathews is currently being held at the Geauga County Safety Center on a $50,000 surety bond, according to court records.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 4 before municipal court Judge Terri Stupica.
“There is no threat to anyone else as this was an isolated incident,” Bokovitz said in the release.
The incident remains under investigation, he added.
