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The man arrested in connection with a deadly weekend shooting at a Muncie neighborhood block party has been formally charged with four felonies, Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman announced Friday.
However, John L. Vance Jr. has not been charged in connection with the death of Joseph E. Bonner III, although Hoffman indicated that additional charges and/or arrests could be forthcoming.
Vance was charged in Delaware Circuit Court 2 on Friday with two counts of Level 3 felony aggravated battery, one count of Level 4 felony possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and one count of Level 5 felony criminal recklessness. Hoffman’s office will also seek a habitual offender enhancement.
The Level 3 felonies are each punishable by up to 16 years in prison while the Level 4 felony carries up to 12 years and the Level 5 felony carries up to six years. Each charge also carries a fine of up to $10,000, while the habitual offender enhancement could add six to 20 years to any resulting sentence if Vance is convicted.
“At this time, the offenses for which Vance was arrested do not include charges relating to the killing of Joseph Bonner,” Hoffman noted in a Friday news release announcing the charges. “As such, there have been a lot of questions, rumors, and more speculation.
“The Muncie Police Department has repeatedly said, the investigation into Bonner’s death and the events of July 30 is rapidly evolving and ongoing,” Hoffman continued. “No one should infer or speculate that there will or (will) not be additional charges filed against Mr. Vance or any additional arrests.
“This investigation is far from over. The investigation and any subsequent prosecution will go where the facts and evidence take it.”
Vance, 36, of Yorktown, was arrested Tuesday following the shooting in the early morning hours of July 30. Police were dispatched then to a block party in Muncie on a report of shots fired.
In addition to the fatal shooting of Bonner, police have said 17 other people suffered gunshot wounds, while an 18th person who was injured may have been struck by a vehicle, according to The Associated Press.
A probable cause affidavit released Tuesday included the accounts of two victims, who said Vance and Bonner were arguing when Bonner threw punch and Vance pulled a gun, then allegedly opened fire.
The charging documents released Friday identify two victims — Jazlin N. Williams and Taz’ihylic L. Isom — whose injuries underpin the aggravated battery charges. It was not clear whether Williams and Isom were the victims referenced in the affidavit, and Hoffman said in the news release that he would not be providing further comment on the specific facts and circumstances of the investigation.
The habitual offender enhancement is based on two of Vance’s prior convictions, according to court documents: a 2012 conviction of Class D felony battery resulting in bodily injury and a 2014 conviction of Class B felony possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon.
Online court records did not list an attorney for Vance as of Friday morning.
Charging documents released Friday also included a lengthy list of state witnesses, including Williams, Isom, several individuals, at least one physician, and various law enforcement and medical personnel.
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