BORDERLAND

Park shooting suspect has $2.25M bond set

6/7/2013
BLADE STAFF

Bond was set at $2.25 million Thursday for a Toledo teen charged in a drive-by shooting during a softball game at Robinson Park.

Benjamin Besteder, 18, of 523 Cadillac Ct. pleaded not guilty before Lucas County Common Pleas Judge Ruth Ann Franks, who scheduled a trial in his case for Aug. 19.

He is charged with three counts of felonious assault and one count of discharge of a firearm upon or over a public road or highway, all carrying firearms specifications, as well as one count of participating in a criminal gang.

According to police, Mr. Besteder was in a car passing the park at 3:15 p.m. May 25 when he shot Ernest Reed, 26.

He also allegedly fired two shots that struck an ice cream truck.