Ohio Father Charged After Allegedly Posing as 11-Year-Old Daughter on TikTok to Confront Suspect in Sexual Assault Case

GROVE CITY, Ohio – An Ohio father is facing felony assault charges after prosecutors say he posed as his 11-year-old daughter’s TikTok account to lure a 20-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting the child to the family’s home, where the suspect was shot twice.

The case has drawn national attention because it involves two separate criminal investigations—one into the alleged sexual assault of a child and another into the father’s actions during the confrontation.

Investigation Began After Mother Found Disturbing Video

According to prosecutors, the investigation began after the girl’s mother discovered a video on her daughter’s cellphone that allegedly showed the child being sexually assaulted.

Authorities said the mother immediately contacted law enforcement, launching a criminal investigation into the allegations.

Father Allegedly Lured Suspect to the Home

Prosecutors allege that the following day, the girl’s father, 31-year-old Malik Chandler, used his daughter’s TikTok account to communicate with 20-year-old Diego Montoya Gonzalez while pretending to be the child.

Investigators say Chandler arranged for Gonzalez to come to the family’s home in Grove City. When Gonzalez arrived, a confrontation took place, ending when Chandler allegedly shot him twice. Gonzalez survived and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Confrontation Under Investigation

According to court documents, Chandler told investigators that he intended to confront Gonzalez and then contact police.

He later told detectives that he fired his weapon after believing Gonzalez was reaching into his pocket. Authorities have not publicly confirmed that Gonzalez was carrying a weapon, and investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Chandler has been charged with felony assault, and his bond was set at $100,000.

Suspect Indicted on Multiple Felony Charges

In a separate case, a Franklin County grand jury indicted Diego Montoya Gonzalez on multiple felony charges, including two counts of rape, five counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, and one count of obstruction of official business.

Prosecutors also allege investigators found several videos depicting child sexual abuse on Gonzalez’s phone, including one involving an infant or toddler. Gonzalez has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court ordered that, if released, he have no contact with the alleged victim or her family and restrict his internet use except for approved purposes.

Two Criminal Cases Proceed Independently

Authorities emphasize that the allegations against Gonzalez and the assault charge against Chandler are separate criminal cases. Both investigations remain active, and each case will be resolved through the judicial process.

Under U.S. law, all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

This version removes the stronger implication of self-defense and simply reports what Chandler allegedly told investigators, while making clear that authorities have not confirmed his account.