For shooting a guy in the face during a “potato chips dispute” nearly precisely one year ago, a 43-year-old man will serve at least nine years in prison.
A statement from the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office stated that Melvin Wright, who entered a guilty plea in October to charges of attempted murder with a firearm, possessing a firearm while disabled, and unlawfully possessing a firearm on a liquor permit property, was sentenced by a judge to nine to twelve years in prison.
Wright approached the victim in a nightclub on November 28, 2023, at 8:40 p.m., and requested some of his potato chips.
Wright followed the victim outside and shot him in the face after he rejected him. The victim drove himself to the hospital, where he received six days of therapy. Despite his injuries, he lived.
After being released, Wright will have to register as a violent offender every year for the following ten years.
Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich stated that, “Summit County is safer without Melvin Wright on our streets. Senseless violence has no place in Akron, and I am grateful that the survivor of this crime is continuing his courageous recovery. Thank you to my assistant prosecutors and the Akron and Metro Transit police departments for their work in holding Wright accountable.”
