The Muskingum County Grand Jury indicted 26-year-old Franklin Grayson of Jacksonville, Florida in connection to the March 17 shooting at Muskingum University in which the defendant shot a baseball player from Olivet College multiple times following the g.

Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Grand Jury indicts Franklin Grayson on 14 felonies tied to Muskingum shooting

The Muskingum County Grand Jury indicted 26-year-old Franklin Grayson of Jacksonville, Florida in connection to the March 17 shooting at Muskingum University in which the defendant shot a baseball player from Olivet College multiple times following the game.

The Grand Jury charged Grayson with 14 felony counts:

Ct. 1). Attempted murder with a firearm and school safety zone specification

Ct. 2-5). Felonious assault with firearm and school safety zone specifications

Ct. 6-7). Improperly discharging a firearm at, in or into a school safety zone with firearm and school safety zone specifications

Ct. 8). Inducing panic with a firearm specification

Ct. 9). Carrying a concealed weapon

Ct. 10). Illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon in a school safety zone

Ct. 11-14). Tampering with evidence, with count 12 carrying a firearm specification

The Grand Jury’s indictment identifies felonious assault both by means of serious harm and by means of a deadly weapon. The indictment further specifies two separate instances of conduct resulting in injury.

Pertaining to the school safety zone specifications, members of the Grand Jury determined that the shooting at the university’s baseball field occurred within 1,000 feet of the East Muskingum Schools campus. Ohio law defines such an area as a school safety zone. The firearm specifications attached to several counts of the indictment refer to the gun Grayson used to commit those crimes of violence.

The four counts of tampering with evidence reflect the actions Grayson took to evade capture or prosecution. According to the indictment, the defendant tampered with his phone, the firearm, his gloves and his clothing.

“The additional charges represent the full range of crimes committed by this defendant,” Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch said. “Our office was able to begin prosecuting this case immediately due to the swift and thorough investigation between multiple law enforcement agencies led by Detectives Brandon Hamilton and Jeremy Archer of the Muskingum County Sheriff’s Office.”

If convicted on all counts of the indictment, Grayson faces a prison sentence of more than 30 years.

The defendant remains in the Muskingum County Jail on a $1 million bond.

During Grayson’s initial appearance in Muskingum County Court Tuesday, Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch explained to the Court that the defendant has no ties to the local community and has already proven to be a flight risk given his behavior the night of the shooting.

The defendant took significant steps to arrive in Muskingum County to commit his crimes and immediately fled the scene after shooting the victim three times.

Further investigation established that the defendant was a graduate of Olivet College with absolutely no other connection to the victim or Muskingum University.

Grayson left his rental vehicle at another location away from the crime scene.

“The defendant represents a danger to not only this community but anywhere he may be released,” Prosecutor Welch said in court. “Any type of monitoring would be insufficient.”

Grayson will appear in person in the Muskingum County Court of Common Pleas for arraignment on Wednesday, March 29.



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Grand Jury indicts Franklin Grayson on 14 felonies tied to Muskingum shooting