An ambush-style shooting at a quiet Wayne Township intersection has earned a Piqua man more than 30 years in prison. Yesterday, 32-year-old Noah Bays was sentenced after a judge said he showed little remorse for the Oct. 27, 2025, attack that wounded his daughter's maternal grandmother and injured another driver, officials say. Bays was convicted on counts that include attempted murder, felonious assault and multiple weapons charges.
Sentence and courtroom remarks
Judge Timothy Tepe stacked the prison terms on the attempted murder counts, each carrying 10 to 15 years, pushing Bays' total time behind bars past three decades, according to FOX19. Tepe told Bays he was "shocked by your conduct," then gave him a chance to speak. Bays declined. The judge credited Bays with about 246 days already served and ordered restitution to the victims, the outlet reported.
The ambush and investigation
Prosecutors say Bays called off work the morning of the shooting, drove more than 50 miles from Piqua to Wayne Township, parked down a long driveway and hid in a tree line for roughly 20 minutes before opening fire as the victim approached, as reported by WHIO. Investigators recovered about a dozen shell casings at the intersection, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation later matched those casings to an AR-15 found in Bays' bedroom. Officials say multiple rounds struck the grandmother's vehicle, with one hitting her leg, and a separate round struck a passing car and an occupied house.
Victim, neighbors and prosecutor reaction
In court, the victim described the ordeal as the most terrifying experience of her life and told jurors she believes Bays intended to kill her that day, according to FOX19. A nearby neighbor who helped at the scene recounted performing first aid after hearing gunfire, a moment described in earlier Wayne Township shooting coverage. First Assistant Prosecutor Steven Knippen said the outcome could have been far worse and framed the shooting as an apparent attempt to gain custody, according to prior reporting.
Charges and legal context
Bays was convicted on two counts of attempted murder, four counts of felonious assault and several weapons-related charges, according to statements from the Warren County Prosecutor's Office reported by WLWT. Prosecutors said the attack arose from a custody dispute and argued the case shows how quickly domestic conflict can escalate into public danger.
What we reported earlier
Hoodline first covered the October 2025 shooting when residents and first responders described the chaotic scene, see Hoodline's initial report. That earlier coverage collected eyewitness accounts and the sheriff's initial statements as investigators worked the scene.
Where the case stands now
The sentence was handed down in Warren County Common Pleas Court in Lebanon, where court information fo r the Common Pleas division is available from the county's site. With the judge's ruling, Bays will begin serving the new term after credits were applied at sentencing and court orders for restitution were entered.
