Toledo Man Arrested in Connection with Shooting that Injured 5-Year-Old

TOLEDO, Ohio — A 21-year-old Toledo man was arrested late Friday night in connection with a shooting that left a 5-year-old child injured in December 2023. Xzavier Moore Rutherford faces charges including felonious assault and improper discharge of a firearm following the incident, which occurred on Brussels Street near Upton Avenue and West Sylvania Avenue.

According to police records, the shooting took place in the early evening hours of December 2023. Officers responding to the scene reported hearing around 15 gunshots in the area. Upon arriving at the residence, law enforcement discovered multiple shell casings outside the home. The child, who was sitting on a couch inside the house, was struck in the face by one of the bullets. Authorities described the injuries as serious but non-life-threatening.

Rutherford was taken into custody on Friday evening and was booked into the Lucas County Jail. His bail was set at $250,000 during a court appearance on Monday. A preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled for February 3, 2025.

In addition to Rutherford’s arrest, two other individuals involved in the incident have already been sentenced. Christopher Riven Jr., 22, was sentenced to 30 months in prison on December 11, 2023, after pleading no contest to charges of complicity to commit felonious assault and felonious assault. Riven was reportedly in the vehicle at the time of the shooting. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Jasmine Lucas was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading no contest to obstructing justice. Her sentencing took place on December 23, 2023.

As the case continues, authorities remain focused on ensuring accountability for the tragic incident that put a young child’s life in danger. The community is left grappling with the unsettling impact of gun violence, particularly when it affects innocent bystanders.