Mother, son arrested in connection with Springfield shooting

Shaquele M. Beard appears in Clark County Municipal Court. Jeff Guerini/Staff

Shaquele M. Beard appears in Clark County Municipal Court. Jeff Guerini/Staff

A Columbus man and his mother have been arrested after police accused the man of shooting at a woman’s vehicle in Springfield early Wednesday evening.

Court records say the pair was arrested after Shaquele M. Beard, 24, was accused of punching a woman in the face and firing a “dirty gold revolver” at the victim’s car. His mother, Kendra A. Beard, 41, also faces a charge of complicity to felonious assault, a second-degree felony.

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Police were headed west on West North Street just east of North Fountain Avenue shortly before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday when they saw a white Honda HRV with two holes in the back hatch. The female driver was bleeding from her nose and was visibly shaking.

The victim told police Shaquele and Kendra Beard chased her in a silver sedan and blocked her in at a stop sign at the intersection of East Southern Avenue and Linden Avenue. Kendra Beard allegedly drove the sedan, according to court records.

Shaquele Beard was accused of punching the victim in the face during a verbal dispute, police said. The victim put her car in reverse and Shaquele Beard allegedly threatened her with a revolver, firing several shots from the handgun as she drove away, according to court records.

Police recovered two bullet fragments from the victim’s vehicle and spoke to two witnesses who confirmed the victim’s story, court records say. Police also obtained surveillance video that confirmed the victim’s story.

Police later located Kendra Beard mother and the sedan in the 700 block of South Fountain Avenue. Shaquele Beard turned himself in at the police station a short time later and reportedly said he knew he made a mistake, according to court records, although he denied using a firearm.

He was also wanted on an outstanding warrant from the Clark County Municipal Court of a charge of obstructing official business. He faces charges of felonious assault, tampering with evidence, domestic violence and weapons under disability, according to court records.

Both suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday in Clark County Municipal Court.

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