Springfield man sentenced in murder attempt has local gang ties, prosecutor says

A man with alleged gang ties will spend a decade and a half behind bars after pleading guilty to attempted murder.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Lisa Hoying said Elrashawn Dover, 18, is a member of the BMG gang. She said the gang commits crimes in the name of a friend who was killed in commission of an armed robbery.

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“It’s a gang of boys that are going around and committing crimes like this. They’re dealing drugs. They’ve got guns. They’re shooting,” she said.

Hoying said multiple other BMG gang members have received sentences for various crimes over the summer.

“It seems to be a mindset of complete disregard for rules and order with this group,” she said.

In August, Dover pleaded guilty in Clark County Common Pleas Court to attempted murder, a gun specification and receiving stolen property, according to court records. He was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison by Clark County Common Pleas Court Judge Douglas Rastatter.

Dover was accused earlier this year of opening fire after an argument with one of two brothers.

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The defendant allegedly shot the brother he was reportedly arguing with in the chest and that man was rushed to the hospital by his brother.

Dover was originally charged with two counts of attempted murder in the case because the brother who rushed his sibling to the hospital was reportedly at the scene when the shooting occurred. However, in a plea deal, one of those charges along with three drug charges were dismissed.

Before the judge read Dover’s sentence, public defender Shawn Murphy said his client was remorseful.

“He does appear to be genuinely sorry for his actions. He has always been open and honest with me,” Murphy said in court.

Hoying argued that Dover actually threatened the victim in the case from jail — trying to get him to not show up in court.

She said the prosecutor’s office is cracking down on the gang, and hopes Tuesday’s sentencing sends a message.

“If you commit crimes here, we’re going to come after you,” she said.

Dover will serve his sentence at the Ohio State Penitentiary.

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