An 18-year-old resident of Sheffield Lake has been formally charged with five felonies in connection with the drive-by shooting that occurred in Vermilion on July 23, 2025.
According to a statement released by the Vermilion Police Department, Jacob Bray turned himself in on August 5 with legal counsel present. The Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office charged Bray with the following:
- Discharging a firearm into a habitation (F2)
- Discharging a firearm at or near a prohibited premises (F3)
- Two counts of improper transport of a firearm in a motor vehicle (F4)
- Improper furnishing of a firearm to a minor (F5)
Bray was arraigned in Vermilion Municipal Court, and the case has since been bound over to the Lorain County Grand Jury. He is being held at the Lorain County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Charges are still pending in relation to a juvenile co-defendant.
This update follows our earlier report detailing how Vermilion Police recovered two firearms believed to be used in the July 23 shooting. The firearms, a shotgun and a 5.56mm rifle, were seized from a location in Sheffield Lake.
The shootings sparked concern among local residents after multiple rounds were fired into a residence. No injuries were reported at the time.
As with all criminal cases, the charges are allegations, and Bray is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Bray faces significant potential penalties, including up to eight years in prison under the second-degree felony charge alone. Vermilion Daily will continue to monitor the case for updates from the Lorain County Grand Jury and court proceedings involving both Bray and the juvenile suspect..
