When an Ohio father discovered that his 11-year-old daughter had allegedly been sexually assaulted by a 20-year-old man, he chose not to wait for law enforcement to intervene. Instead, he orchestrated a digital sting operation, posing as his young child online to lure the suspect directly to his doorstep before a violent confrontation broke out.
The harrowing series of events began on July 15, when the mother of the 11-year-old girl discovered a video on a mobile device showing her daughter being sexually abused. The discovery was immediately shared with the girl’s father, 31-year-old Malik Chandler of Grove City, Ohio.
Driven by anger and desperation, Chandler took control of his daughter’s phone the very next day. Logged into her TikTok account, he impersonated the young girl and struck up a conversation with her alleged attacker, identified as Diego Montoya Gonzalez.
Chandler used the messaging platform to arrange a meeting, convincing Gonzalez to return to the family’s residence.
According to police reports, Chandler initially told investigators that his intention was not to shoot Gonzalez. His original plan was to trap the 20-year-old inside the home, physically subdue him, and hold him down until police officers arrived to make a formal arrest.
However, Chandler claimed that the confrontation escalated rapidly upon Gonzalez’s arrival. When Gonzalez allegedly reached toward his pocket for what Chandler believed was a firearm, the father drew his own weapon and fired two shots.
Gunfire, Hospitalization, and Charges on Both Sides
When emergency responders and Grove City police officers arrived at the scene, they found Gonzalez seated in a chair, suffering from two gunshot wounds. Paramedics rushed him to Grant Medical Center in nearby Columbus, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
In the aftermath of the shooting, both men found themselves facing serious criminal charges.
Chandler was taken into custody and charged with felonious assault, with a judge setting his bond at $100,000.
A review of Chandler’s legal history revealed a 2021 charge involving domestic violence and strangulation against a former partner, though that case was ultimately dismissed. Public records also show a 2017 misdemeanor conviction for attempted breaking and entering in Ohio. Because that prior conviction was a misdemeanor rather than a felony, Chandler was legally permitted to possess a firearm at the time of the shooting.
Meanwhile, the investigation into Gonzalez uncovered evidence that extended far beyond the initial incident.
A grand jury officially indicted Gonzalez on a sweeping eight-count indictment, including:
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Two counts of rape
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Five counts of pandering sexually-oriented material involving a minor
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One count of obstruction of official business
During court proceedings, prosecutors revealed that a forensic examination of Gonzalez’s cell phone uncovered multiple illicit videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children, including explicit footage involving an infant or toddler.
Should Gonzalez be convicted and eventually released from prison, court-ordered restrictions will permanently bar him from making any contact with the young victim or her family. Furthermore, he will face strict prohibitions banning him from using the internet for any purpose outside of verified employment requirements.