MOUNT VERNON, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—A man has been arrested and charged with aggravated murder after a shooting at a Dollar General store in Mount Vernon Saturday afternoon.

Mount Vernon police officers responded to a report of a shooting at the Dollar General in the Kroger Plaza on Coshocton Avenue at approximately 4:17 p.m. Upon arrival, they found an adult male deceased inside the store. No other victims were located.

Witnesses told officers the suspect had fled the scene, providing descriptions of the individual and vehicle.   

Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who also responded to the incident, located a vehicle matching the suspect’s description and conducted a traffic stop, detaining two individuals, a male and a female.

Patrick D. Yoder, 36, was arrested and will be charged with aggravated murder with a firearms specification. He was taken into custody without incident and will be transported to the Knox County Jail following a medical evaluation. He is being held without bond. 

Detectives from the Mount Vernon Police Department, along with investigators from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), the Knox County Coroner’s Office, and the Knox County Prosecutor’s Office, responded to both the shooting scene and the traffic stop location.

The Dollar General store was secured as a crime scene.

The victim’s family has been notified. In accordance with Ohio’s Marsy’s Law, the victim’s identity will not be released at this time.

The investigation is ongoing, and further details will be released as appropriate.

Robert K. Morgan, Chief of Police, Mount Vernon Police Department, is the contact for further inquiries.