Man arrested for attempted murder after allegedly shooting man several times

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - A man was arrested and charged with attempted murder after he allegedly shot a man several times during an altercation in South Bend, according to the probable cause affidavit.

John Griffin, 39, was charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery, and battery by means of a deadly weapon.

On December 6, 2022, officers with the South Bend Police Department responded to an apartment complex in the 3400 block of Ardmore Trail.

When police arrived, they were told a local hospital had a walk-in gunshot victim.

That victim was in critical condition and had been taken in for surgery.

Officers spoke to a witness, who said John Griffin came over to her residence with a friend and when she asked them to leave, they allegedly refused.

The witness asked her boyfriend, Demetrius Johnson, for help because she was afraid of Griffin.

According to the witness, Griffin had assaulted her in the past.

Once at the residence, Johnson and Griffin got into a verbal argument.

The witness told them all to leave and as they were in the parking lot, Griffin allegedly pulled out a gun and shot at Johnson, hitting him several times, reports said.

Griffin then got into his vehicle and was about to drive off when he allegedly tried to shoot Johnson again.

Johnson used the witness as a shield, according to reports.

When officers spoke with Johnson, he confirmed what the witness said and told police he was only at the residence because the witness was afraid of Griffin and his friend.

Johnson said he knew the two men from previous interactions that were peaceful.

Video surveillance from the apartment complex verified the events that happened in the parking lot, reports said.

The footage shows a man get out of a green Toyota Camry, point a gun at another man, and shoot, according to police.

The man then gets back into the Camry as the victim runs into the road/sidewalk area.

As the Camry pulls up next to the victim, the victim is seen using a woman who was with him as a shield, as it appears the man in the Camry fired the gun again, reports said.    

Johnson was shot several times in the torso, arm, and stomach.

Griffin is being held on a $250,000 cash bond.

He is due for his initial court hearing on January 17.