A man from Perry was sentenced recently for shooting the city’s police chief.. 

According to court documents, 32-year-old Jeremiah Messner pled guilty to six felony charges including willful injury with intent to cause serious injury with a dangerous weapon, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, trafficking a stolen weapon, reckless use of a firearm, convicted felon in possession of a dangerous weapon and criminal mischief in the second degree. He was sentenced to 40 years with a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. 

The charge stems from an incident on May 10, 2022. When the Perry Police Department responded to a call of gunshots behind a Perry residence. Perry Police Officers made contact with Messner in possession of a firearm and he admitted to shooting a vehicle. Police Chief Eric Vaughn attempted to disarm Messner and during a struggle Vaughn was shot in the leg causing injuries.