BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Witnesses testified in the Crawford County Common Pleas Court on Thursday afternoon in the May shooting case in Galion. The first witness, Galion Police Officer Collin Fox, stated that he arrived at Ms. Perry’s address on S. Union Street in Galion at around 5:15 a.m. on the day of the shooting. Fox mentioned that upon arrival, he was met by several people, including children, who were all speaking at the same time. Instead of allowing them to continue talking, he had them fill out witness statements. Fox also assisted the detectives in securing the scene when they arrived.
During his testimony, Fox revealed that when he asked who might have been responsible for the shooting, he was initially told that Perry’s cousin was upset with the family. However, Perry did not believe that her cousin would be foolish enough to shoot her house while her children were inside. Perry also mentioned that she saw a black car leaving the scene, but it was later determined that the car was not involved.
The next witness was the victim, Ms. Perry. Perry informed the jury that she, her boyfriend, his parents, and eight children were present in the house at the time of the shooting. She woke up to the sound of gunshots and immediately got out of bed, where her boyfriend and the family dog were also. No one was injured.
Initially, she did not realize that the window, TV, and nightstand had been hit by bullets. Perry called 911 twice because she felt that the response was not quick enough after the first call.
Perry recalled an altercation a few days prior involving her friends Kerrie Murphy and Victoria Loftis. The altercation occurred because Loftis had an affair with Murphy’s husband. Perry testified that she did not personally know Dakota Craft, but Brandon Murphy had brought Loftis to her house.
During cross-examination, defense attorney Jerry Thompson presented Perry with her written statement, which contradicted her testimony. In her statement, she mentioned hearing a single gunshot, but during her testimony, she claimed to have heard three. Police verified three gunshots did occur.
Perry admitted to having issues with Victoria Loftis but denied having any interaction with Craft before the incident between Murphy and Loftis. She also admitted to calling Kerrie Murphy to the house on the morning of the shooting.
Thompson suggested that Perry and Murphy conspired to frame Dakota Craft for the crime. He accused Murphy of providing the police with the exact address where Craft and Loftis could be found in the garage.
Galion Police Detectives Bob Burkey and Darren Patrick were also involved in the case. Detective Patrick testified that he usually worked the day shift from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. On May 23rd, he received a call shortly after 5 a.m. about the shooting. When he arrived at the scene, Officers Fox and Shafer had already discovered two bullet holes, one in a nightstand and one in a TV in the front bedroom.
They found a third bullet hole at the back of the house about a week later.
Initially, their search for bullet casings was unsuccessful. However, they eventually found casings under a fitted sheet on the bed.
One of the children also found a shell casing. The TV and nightstand were taken to the Galion Police Department, where the bullet in the nightstand was removed.
Detective Burkey informed the jury that he assisted in obtaining a Google warrant to locate the perpetrator’s cell phone in the area at the time of the shooting, but it was unsuccessful. The state mentioned in their opening arguments that Dakota Craft did not have access to a cell phone during the shooting but used Facebook Messenger to communicate. Other texts intended for him were sent to his mother’s phone.
Detectives went to Craft’s mother’s home and found Craft and Loftis in the garage. When asked about his dispute with the victim, Craft claimed that he did not know her and had walked away from the altercation two days prior. However, evidence showed communication between Murphy and Craft, including threats to his girlfriend. Craft told the police that he was sleeping at the time of the shooting.
Victoria Loftis admitted to having an affair with Murphy’s husband and to knowing Kerrie Murphy.
Thompson showed the detective a message sent by Murphy to Craft, where Craft responded to a communication from Muphy where he replied that he did not know who she was.
Law enforcement acknowledged that Craft, Loftis, and Craft’s mother were cooperative throughout his interaction with them.
Thompson pointed out that shortly after Kerrie Murphy arrived at the scene, the police knew the exact locations of Craft and Loftis. He questioned the detective, asking if he found it odd that Murphy knew where to find his client and Loftis.
The testimony will continue on Friday in the Crawford County Common Pleas Court.