Springfield man accused of shooting at family indicted

A Springfield man accused of attacking his wife and then firing shots at her brother as he was trying to protect her was indicted this week.

Paul Rainer, 41, was indicted on two counts of improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation or school safety zone, felonious assault, two counts of having weapons under disability and domestic violence in Clark County Common Pleas Court, according to the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office.

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Police began their investigation May 21 at around 7:30 p.m. when they responded to a home on the 2100 block of Gladden Avenue. There, they spoke with a man who said he witnessed his sister’s husband beating on her and he wanted to stop it, according to a Springfield police report.

“(The victim) stated Rainer became upset and started throwing things at (his wife),” the report says. “When she attempted to run away from him towards the east side of the house, (the man) chased after her and began to punch (her) in the head.”

When the victim tried to stop it, the police report says Rainer took out a black semi-automatic pistol and pointed it at the victim.

“Rainer ran around the driver’s side of the truck and fired a shot at (the victim) which missed and struck the house where a number of family members were inside,” the report says.

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The man fired two more shots and got into an altercation with the victim before leaving the scene, according to the report.

Rainer is expected to be arraigned in Clark County Common Pleas Court this week.

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