RICHMOND DALE, Ohio — A man faces felonious assault charges after allegedly attacking another man at a gas station early Tuesday, leaving the victim with a fractured cheekbone, authorities said.
Sgt. Jake Champion of the Ross County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Quick One Stop on U.S. Route 50 following reports of an assault. The victim, whose identity was not released, told deputies he was punched in the face by a man he identified as an acquaintance’s son, with whom he had a decades-old feud.
The victim sustained a swollen and disfigured left cheek, a fractured zygomatic arch, and minor scrapes, according to Champion’s report. The man was treated at Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe, where doctors recommended surgery. The victim declined ambulance transport to avoid leaving his truck unattended.
Security camera footage from the gas station corroborated the victim’s account, showing a man in an orange baseball cap punching the victim at pump No. 5 at 5:18 a.m., causing him to fall. The suspect appeared to kick at the victim before fleeing with another individual in a black Hyundai Elantra, the report said.
Champion identified the suspect through social media and vehicle registration records, confirming the suspect’s ownership of a 2019 Hyundai Elantra matching the vehicle in the footage. A warrant for felonious assault has been filed, and a photo lineup is planned to confirm the suspect’s identity.
Store employees told deputies the victim entered the gas station bleeding and asked her to call 911.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the Ross County Sheriff’s Office.