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Editor’s note: This article has been updated.
New details have been revealed in the weekend shooting at a Muncie block party that left one person dead and more than a dozen injured, including the name of the suspect who has been arrested.
Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman on Wednesday released the Affidavit of Probable Cause for Arrest Without Warrant following the arrest Tuesday of the suspect, John L. Vance Jr.
Vance, 36, was booked into the Delaware County Jail on Tuesday on preliminary charges of two counts of aggravated battery and one count each of possession of a firearm as a serious violent felon and criminal recklessness, all felonies, as well as an allegation that he is a habitual offender. His bond has been set at $105,000, cash only.
Formal charges have not yet been filed against Vance, who is accused in the affidavit of opening fire at a block party resulting in the death of Joseph E. Bonner III. Hoffman said his office is “currently reviewing the case and anticipate(s) filing formal charges in the coming days.”
The affidavit provides the fullest picture so far of what happened in the early morning hours of July 30 at a block part near East Willard and South Hackley streets. Hoffman said the block party was not part of the Muncie Homecoming Festival that was hosted over the weekend.
The affidavit, filed by Muncie Police officer Mariah Copeland, cites two victims who were interviewed while being treated for gunshot wounds at Ball Memorial Hospital.
The victims were at the party around 1 a.m. when they observed Vance and Bonner engaged in an altercation, the affidavit says. They described the two men arguing and punches being thrown, with Victim 2 say Bonner first took a swing at Vance.
That’s when Vance allegedly brandished a firearm, which Victim 1 described as a Glock.
“Victim 1 stated the gun was in Vance’s hand, in between him and Bonner, pointed in the direction of the crowd. The firearm was discharged and Victim 1 saw a flash from the gun then got shot. During this time, Victim 1 heard approximately 5-6 gun shots,” the affidavit says.
The victims were part of a group of 17 people who suffered gunshot wounds, while an 18th person who was injured may have been struck by a car, according to The Associated Press. AP also reports that two of the people wounded were minors.
According to the affidavit, Victim 1 “suffered a gunshot wound to the right arm which was said to have traveled through the body causing a lung injury, 2-3 broken ribs and exited the upper left part of the body. … Victim 1 advised, the damage caused to their right arm resulted in impairment of the function of the arm.”
The affidavit also says a family member brought Victim 2 to the hospital. During the police interview, “Victim 2 had gauze wrapped around the area of their arm which needed to be periodically changed due to continuous bleeding.”
Vance’s criminal history includes convictions for Level 5 felony domestic battery, Class B felony dealing in cocaine, Class B felony unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and Class D felony battery resulting in bodily injury, according to the affidavit. The dealing and unlawful possession convictions qualify him as a habitual offender, it adds.
According to Hoffman, “At this time, the offenses for which Vance was arrested do not include charges relating to the killing of Joseph Bonner. The investigation into his death and the events of July 30 is rapidly evolving and ongoing. This is a wide-ranging investigation that includes, but is not limited to: the homicide, the shooting, injuries sustained by a victim from being hit by a vehicle, as well as violations relating to hosting loud and late night parties. It will all take time to complete and is far from over.”
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