What began as a routine dog-park stop in Bainbridge Township turned violent last Tuesday (April 21), when a 55-year-old Marine Corps veteran was shot in the parking lot near the dog area at Centerville Mills Park after an argument about former President Donald Trump. The victim, identified as David Mattai, was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery and, according to family members, remains hospitalized with a bullet lodged near his spine. A nearby resident was arrested, and the case has quickly become the talk of the local dog-walking circuit as the investigation continues.
According to Cleveland.com, Bainbridge Township police and Geauga County officials identified the suspect as 80-year-old Emmanuel John Mathews. He has been charged with second-degree felonious assault in Chardon Municipal Court. Family members told the outlet that Mathews was released on a $50,000 bond and is scheduled to return to court on May 4, 2026.
Where It Happened
Centerville Mills Park sits in Bainbridge Township and is a township-owned recreation spot that draws regular crowds for trails, a lakeside dining hall and open space used by local dog owners. The township lists Centerville Mills among its park properties on its official parks page, according to Bainbridge Township.
What Officials and Family Say
The victim, 55-year-old David Mattai of Auburn Township, underwent emergency surgery at Hillcrest Hospital for a gunshot wound to his lower back and is still hospitalized, with a bullet lodged near his spine, his wife said. Sally Mattai told reporters that her husband managed to call her and tell her he had been shot, a phone call no spouse expects from a casual trip to the dog park.
Bainbridge Township Police Chief Jon Bokovitz said investigators believe the confrontation started as an argument about former President Donald Trump. He added that, at this stage of the investigation, police have found no evidence that the shooting was a hate crime. Mathews’ attorney, Ian N. Friedman, has said his client claims he acted in self-defense after allegedly being verbally and physically assaulted, according to Cleveland.com.
What Comes Next
The case remains under active investigation, and Mathews is due back in Chardon Municipal Court on May 4 for further proceedings. Prosecutors are expected to review the evidence as it comes in, and any next legal steps will hinge on what investigators uncover about how a political disagreement in a Geauga County dog park ended with a Marine veteran in a hospital bed.
