Jacob Ruff Jr., Possessing a Firearm in a School Zone, Ohio 2023

DAYTON, OH – A brazen act of disregard for student safety landed 19-year-old Jacob Ruff Jr. in federal court today, where he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm on the grounds of Edwin Joel Brown Middle School. The incident, which occurred May 12th, sent ripples of fear through the Dayton community and prompted a swift investigation by both local police and federal agents.

The trouble began with a shots fired call in the school parking lot. When Dayton police arrived, they recovered shell casings that were immediately flagged for analysis. Ballistics data was entered into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), a crucial tool in tracing firearms used in crimes. Simultaneously, school security footage pointed investigators squarely at Ruff as a suspect.

Ruff’s attempt to evade justice was short-lived. On May 31st, officers apprehended him while he was fleeing from a loud block party in a public roadway. A search of his person revealed a loaded handgun tucked inside a fanny pack. This weapon would prove to be the link to the earlier incident at Edwin Joel Brown Middle School. The ATF took possession of the firearm and test-fired it, submitting additional shell casings to NIBIN. The results were conclusive: the casings matched those recovered from the school parking lot.

Federal charges were filed against Ruff in June, escalating the case beyond local jurisdiction. Possessing a firearm in a school zone carries significant penalties under federal law. Ruff now faces a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison. The final sentencing will be determined by the court, taking into account advisory guidelines and other relevant factors.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a violent crime reduction program. PSN aims to address the most pressing violent crime issues in communities by fostering collaboration between law enforcement agencies and focusing on the most dangerous offenders. U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio, alongside ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge John Nokes and Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal, announced the guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline H. Gentry.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is leading the prosecution. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves towards sentencing, providing updates on the outcome and its impact on the Dayton community. The incident underscores the ongoing struggle to keep weapons out of the hands of individuals who pose a threat to schools and the children within them.

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