Joseph Chevrolet employee indicted on new charges in shooting at dealership

The Joseph Chevrolet employee who opened fire inside the Colerain Township dealership’s showroom is now facing felony charges.

Rashid Dewees, 21, of Fairfield, was indicted Tuesday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on two counts of felonious assault and a single count of inducing panic, court records show. Those charges are in addition to misdemeanor counts of inducing panic and aggravated menacing.

According to criminal complaints, Dewees caused the dealership to be evacuated when he pointed a gun at someone and opened fire while customers and employees were inside.

Frantic 911 calls detailed the chaos, with people fleeing from or taking shelter at the Colerain Avenue dealership after two to three shots were fired inside the showroom.

When Colerain Township police officers arrived at the business after being dispatched around 4 p.m., they heard a shot fired from inside and observed people running. Within minutes, officers entered the building, located Dewees inside the showroom and arrested him without further incident.

Dewees’ attorney declined to comment on the new charges when reached by The Enquirer on Tuesday afternoon. As part of the conditions of his bond set in Hamilton County Municipal Court, Dewees is not allowed to return to Joseph Chevrolet.

“To our employees and customers, we want to extend our sincerest apologies for the distress and fear this situation may have caused,” Joseph Chevrolet said in a statement on Facebook.

“As we move forward, know that we are committed to working closely with local authorities to enhance safety measures within our dealership,” the statement reads. “The well-being of our employees and customers will always be our foremost concern.”

Dewees posted bond on the misdemeanor charges and was released from jail last week. A Colerain Township news release said Dewees was arrested Tuesday evening.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio man facing felonies in connection with gunfire at car dealership