A man from Trotwood faces federal charges following his involvement in a shootout at a Dayton gas station. Walter Rodgers, 35, was indicted for possessing a firearm despite his prior felony convictions. The incident unfolded at the Sunoco on E. Third Street last week, prompting a police response to the scene of gunfire during the early afternoon hours.
Rodgers, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio, is alleged to have engaged in the exchange of shots after allegedly being targeted. In what seems to be a desperate maneuver, he is accused of having run inside the gas station to quickly retrieve a firearm from his bag, and then re-emerging to literally shoot back at his assailants. The gun, found covered in blood at the scene, was indicative of Rodgers' participation and injury during the violent altercation.
Further intrigue surrounds Rodgers with references to an ominous statement he allegedly made during the shootout: "I’m going to do ya’ll like I did Cierra." This mention, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, may connect him to the disappearance of Cierra Chapman, his former girlfriend, who was reported missing in 2022 and whose whereabouts are still unknown.
His criminal history, which includes counts of aggravated burglary and abduction, predated this recent alleged offense. Federal laws strictly prohibit felons from bearing arms. Rodgers could now potentially face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the charge of illegal firearm possession. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Thomas A. Greco, Acting Special Agent in Charge at the ATF, and Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal jointly announced the charges, with Assistant United States Attorney Erica Lunderman to represent the government in the looming case.
