West Lafayette man charged with attempted murder

COSHOCTON – A West Lafayette man is being held on a $1 million bond in connection with the July 11 shooting of his former girlfriend outside a South Second Street restaurant.

Mark A. Ray, 44, of 324 Fairview Manor, Lot 93, West Lafayette, is charged with attempted murder, a first-degree felony. He remains in the Coshocton County Justice Center on that charge in lieu of posting bond, set Wednesday by Visiting Judge James S. Rapp in Coshocton Municipal Court.

If convicted on the attempted murder charge, Ray could face between three and 11 years in prison and a maximum fine of $20,000, Rapp said.

In court Wednesday afternoon, Ray asked the judge to appoint an attorney to handle his case. Rapp then issued a preliminary order appointing the Public Defender’s Office, pending the outcome of his application.

Ray is next scheduled to appear at 1 p.m. Aug. 5 in Municipal Court for a preliminary hearing, by Rapp’s order.

Assistant County Prosecutor Ben Hall said Ray could face additional charges after the case is presented to a grand jury.

Sheriff’s deputies booked Ray into the County Jail on Tuesday night after his release from a Columbus hospital, Sheriff Tim Rogers said. Details regarding his hospitalization have not been released.

Ray appeared in court Wednesday in a wheelchair, accompanied by deputies.

He had been in the hospital since his capture July 12 following a standoff in woods near Morgan Run Road, Rogers said.

The shooting occurred the day before in a parking lot outside the Dairy Queen on South Second Street in Coshocton.

Hall declined to comment on the current medical condition of the victim, a 34-year-old Coshocton woman who had been hospitalized following the shooting.

jwilliams6@gannett.com

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