FAYETTE COUNTY, Ohio – A man is facing attempted murder charges after allegedly opening fire on another vehicle while traveling northbound on Interstate 71 in Fayette County.

According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, a motorist called 911 around 5:26 p.m. on February 6 to report that they had been shot at multiple times by someone in a gray SUV. The caller, who was also traveling northbound, said they were uncertain if their vehicle had been struck. Dispatchers stayed on the line with the victim while deputies responded to the area.

A patrol deputy located the suspect vehicle, a gray Ford Escape, north of mile marker 75 and initiated a traffic stop. The occupants were identified as Alonzo Thorpe Jr., 22, of Oakwood, Ohio, and Tyreese Shamar McCollum, 26, of Garfield Heights, Ohio.

Gun missing, suspect had active warrants

A search of the vehicle and its occupants did not immediately produce a firearm. However, the victim told deputies that the passenger, McCollum, was the one who fired the shots. Investigators later determined that a gun had allegedly been thrown from the vehicle before deputies stopped them.

A background check on both suspects revealed that McCollum had active felony warrants out of Cuyahoga County for weapons violations and felonious assault. He was taken into custody and transported to the Fayette County Jail, where he is being held without bond.

Gun and ammunition discovered

The following morning, February 7, deputies conducted a search along I-71 North near the location of the traffic stop. During the search, they recovered a Glock 19 9mm pistol along the highway shoulder, along with a plastic bag containing several rounds of 9mm ammunition. Authorities later confirmed that the firearm had been reported stolen out of Garfield Heights.

Suspect charged with attempted murder

Based on the victim’s report and the recovery of the stolen firearm, deputies have charged Tyreese S. McCollum with:

                •             Attempted murder

                •             Having weapons while under disability

                •             Tampering with evidence

The case remains under investigation and will be presented to the Fayette County Prosecutor’s Office for further review. McCollum remains in jail with no bond pending his preliminary hearing in Washington Court House Municipal Court.