Toledo gang member guilty in drive-by shooting

10/9/2013

A Toledo gang member was convicted today in a drive-by shooting during a softball game at Robinson Park.

Benjamin Besteder, 19, of 523 Cadillac Ct., was found guilty by a jury in Lucas County Common Pleas Court of three counts of felonious assault and one count of discharge of a firearm upon or over a public road or highway. Each charge included a firearms specification.

Besteder is a member of the XBlocc gang.

Besteder, who did not take the stand during his three-day trial, fired multiple shots from a car as it was passing the park about 3:15 p.m. May 25. Ernest Reed, 26, was wounded, while two shots struck a parked ice cream truck with two people inside.

Besteder faces up to 37 years in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 29 by Judge Ruth Ann Franks.