His father, Abdessadek Laghaoui, told investigators he listened to his son continue pulling the trigger even after he had run out of rounds during a hail of gunfire June 9.
Mohammed Laghaoui remains in the Warren County Jail on $2 million bond, charged in an indictment released Tuesday with attempted aggravated murder, attempted murder, felonious assault, tampering with evidence, improperly discharging a firearm into two apartments and domestic violence.
Laghaoui’s most serious charges stem from the wounding of Barnes and his father, and from firing shots at a neighbor, and into the neighbor’s apartment at the Orchard of Landen complex in Deerfield Twp., Warren County.
Mohammed Laghaoui is suspected of wounding Barnes as she approached the family’s apartment. Barnes arrived after he allegedly punched his father in the face during a domestic dispute.
When he was barred from re-entering the apartment, after firing on Barnes, Mohammed Laghaoui allegedly shot through the door, breaking the lock and wounding his father’s hand.
“Mohammed then was standing at the door with the rifle,” Detective Paul Barger said in a search warrant affidavit of an interview with the father. “He said the clicking noise he heard was the gun being empty and Mohammed pulling the trigger.”
Although wounded, the father said he then pushed his son, who left the apartment complex, sparking a lengthy manhunt that prompted authorities to lock down the busy area in Deerfield Twp., according to court records obtained Tuesday.
Few new details emerged during a press conference held by Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell. For example, Fornshell didn’t specify where Mohammed Laghaoui was headed at the time of the domestic dispute.
A passport and manual for an assault rifle were among possessions seized from Mohammed Laghaoui.
It also remains unclear what the Laghaouis were arguing about, except that Mohammed Laghaoui was packing to leave.
Authorities have so far failed to recover the alleged weapon, which Fornshell called "an AK-47-style rifle" on Tuesday.
Fornshell emphasized the public safety concerns regarding the gun, while downplaying its significance in making a criminal case.
“We’re confident we have sufficient evidence regardless,” Fornshell said, while dismissing Mohammed Laghaoui’s chances in pursuing a not guilty by reason of insanity defense.
Investigators also searched Mohammed Laghaoui’s 2005 Lincoln Towne Car, took samples from him for DNA testing and pursued data on his phone during the search for the missing gun, according to court records.
“It is unknown if Mohammed called someone to get the rifle or if there is information on his phone which may assist in locating it,” according to an affidavit.
Mohammed Laghaoui also allegedly fired shots at a neighbor, Jason Ratliff, and into Ratliff's child's bedroom, but no one was struck by any of these shots.
“It certainly created a deadly risk for that child,” Fornshell said.
Neither Barnes nor Abdessadek Laghaoui suffered life-threatening injuries.
Mohammed Laghaoui was arrested without incident after returning to the apartment about seven hours later.
He indicated at an earlier hearing that he would hire a lawyer, but none was listed in court records filed Tuesday.
He is scheduled for arraignment at 10:30 a.m. today in Warren County Common Pleas Court.
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