Who is Malik Chandler, Arrested for Shooting Daughter's Suspected Rapist?
Prosecutors said Malik Chandler posed as his daughter on TikTok to lure her alleged rapist to his Ohio home.
Malik Chandler, a 31-year-old father from Grove City, Ohio, is currently facing a higher bond than the alleged attacker of his 11-year-old daughter, who is accused of raping her. Chandler was arrested and charged with felonious assault after allegedly shooting the 20-year-old man, Diego Montoya Gonzalez, following a series of messages sent through his daughter's TikTok account.
Montoya Gonzalez was found with two gunshot wounds at Chandler's home and is currently in custody. The case gained attention when Montoya Gonzalez's bond was set at $70,000, while Chandler's bond was set at $100,000, sparking outrage on social media. Montoya Gonzalez pleaded not guilty to charges including rape, pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, and obstructing official business.
His arraignment on Monday saw a judge set a $20,000 recognizance bond and a $50,000 cash bond for him. Chandler was present in the courtroom during the arraignment. Authorities started investigating Montoya Gonzalez after his mother discovered a video on her daughter's phone that appeared to show a sexual assault on July 15. The next day, Chandler allegedly lured Montoya Gonzalez to their home by pretending to be his daughter on TikTok.
According to police, Chandler believed Montoya Gonzalez was reaching for a firearm when he shot him. Chandler has a history of criminal offenses, including being convicted in 2017 of attempted breaking and entering, which allowed him to legally possess a firearm under Ohio law. Social media users have expressed their support for Chandler, questioning why he was issued a higher bond than the alleged pedophile rapist.
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