Malik Chandler allegedly lured a man to his Parlin Drive home via TikTok and shot him after learning of sexual-assault claims involving his 11-year-old daughter.
The father of the alleged sexual assault victim, 31-year-old Malik Chandler, is accused of luring a visitor to his Parlin Drive home in Grove City, Ohio and shooting him after learning of sexual assault allegations involving his 11-year-old daughter.
The mother of the girl called police after allegedly seeing a video of a sexual assault at their home on her daughter’s phone.
The next day, the alleged victim’s father lured the rape suspect back to the home by pretending to be his daughter on the TikTok app, and police were called back to the residence to find Diego Montoya Gonzalez shot twice.
Chandler told detectives what happened next.
“The father told police that he intended only to beat up Gonzalez and then call police but that the suspect reached for a gun and precipitated the shooting.”
A neighbor named Terrie Shirkey described the father as visibly upset after finding out about the allegations, saying “[He] had checked the phone, and he saw texts.”
The neighbor’s observation came shortly after police were called to the home on July 15.
Grove City police said they were called to the apartment on July 15 over the report of a sexual assault on an 11-year-old girl.
A community member summarized the sentiment some held about Chandler’s actions, saying “I can see why he went after him. I’m not saying it’s right, but that at least makes some sense.”
Chandler was taken to the Grove City Police Department facility, where he reportedly told detectives that he learned about the alleged sexual assault and said he started messaging the man on TikTok and lured him into his apartment.
Court records revealed the full scope of Chandler’s stated intentions.
According to court records, Chandler planned to beat him up, hold him there, and then call the police.
The records don’t specifically say that the shooting victim is the person accused of the sexual assault, but when the man arrived at Chandler’s apartment, he opened the door and asked who he was, and Chandler reportedly said the man immediately reached into his pocket, which made him think he had a gun.
Officers arrived to find Chandler ready to surrender.
Officers talked to Chandler on the phone before he exited his apartment and surrendered.
Officers found Gonzalez suffering from two gun shot wounds and he was taken to Grant Medical Center to be treated for his injuries.
Gonzalez was later arrested and charged with rape, pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, and obstructing official business, and on Monday, he pleaded not guilty in a Franklin County Common Pleas Court and was given a $20,000 recognizance bond as well as a $50,000 cash/surety bond.
If released, he was ordered to stay off the internet except for work and restricted from contacting the alleged victim’s family.
Chandler’s past factored into authorities’ handling of the case.
Court records show he was charged in 2021 with strangling his live-in girlfriend until she lost consciousness, but that case was later dismissed.
In 2017, he was convicted of attempted breaking and entering, a misdemeanor offense, meaning he was still legally allowed to possess a firearm under Ohio law.
A 31-year-old Ohio father learned his 11-year-old daughter had been sexually assaulted after her mother discovered a video on the child’s phone showing the abuse taking place at their home.
Rather than wait for the legal system to handle the man he believed responsible, Chandler took matters into his own hands, logging onto TikTok to pretend to be his daughter and draw the suspect back to the residence.
The plan centered on confronting the man and beating him before calling police—but when the visitor arrived and reached toward his pocket, Chandler fired multiple shots, leaving the suspect wounded on the apartment floor.
The incident has raised questions about vigilante justice, parental protection, and the limits of self-defense, with some neighbors and observers expressing understanding of the father’s impulse while others pointed to the legal consequences of his actions.
Chandler is facing one count of felonious assault, and his bond has been set at $100,000.
His next court appearance is scheduled for July 24.