NORWALK, OH – A Norwalk business owner, Jeffrey M. Keefer, 58, pleaded guilty Wednesday, May 12 in Huron County Common Pleas Court to one count of third degree attempted felonious assault with forfeiture and one count of discharging of firearm on or near prohibited premises.
The shooting happened Nov. 16 at Keefer’s business, US 20 Metal Recycling at 1640 E. U.S. 20, Norwalk. According to the Huron County Sheriff’s Office, deputies began investigating the incident after a 22-year-old Wakeman man called 9-1-1 to report Keefer “came at me with a gun and shot right next to my head,” the sheriff’s office reported.
The victim was not injured.
During the investigation, deputies used search warrants to collect security camera video storage devices, a firearm and ammunition from the inside business, along with a spent shell casing in the area where the shooting took place. The recovered video confirmed the victim’s statement and showed Jeffrey Keefer shooting at the man while standing a few feet in front of him. The bullet traveled across U.S. 20. It is believed that this incident was the result of a dispute regarding something posted on social media.