Man accused of shooting security guard nine times on Christmas Eve arrested
COLUMBUS, Ohio February 11 2023 Police have arrested a man accused of shooting a security guard nine times at a bar on Christmas Eve.
On Dec. 24, officers responded to The Spot, a Walnut Hills bar on East Livingston Avenue near Reynoldsburg. Officers found Jason Ferguson suffering from nine gunshot wounds.
Police said Ferguson was working as an unarmed security guard at the bar when the shooting occurred about 2:15 a.m. After the shooting, the suspects were seen heading eastbound on East Livingston Avenue in a gray SUV.
The SUV also reportedly struck the security guard’s trailer attached to his vehicle as it was leaving.
On Jan. 31, detectives identified the SUV using video surveillance footage and found that a police cruiser camera passing the scene had captured an image of the license plate.
Three days later, authorities located the SUV in front of a home registered to Jerry Joseph Rood. The SUV showed damage to the front right corner, consistent with damage that would have occurred when the suspect’s vehicle struck the security guard’s trailer.
On Tuesday, the victim, who survived his injuries, identified Rood through a photo array. Rood was arrested Thursday and was issued a $250,000 bond Friday in Franklin County Municipal Court.
He is next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 16 for a preliminary hearing.
