In a chilling series of events in Ohio, a man is accused of committing violent acts against two women in quick succession. The suspect, Ronald Loftis, 47, reportedly assaulted a woman waiting at a bus stop by pistol-whipping her, followed by an even more severe crime mere minutes later where he shot another woman in the face while stealing her car, shockingly throwing her 1-year-old child into the snow in the process.

Earlier this month, Loftis was formally charged with a range of serious offenses, including attempted murder, felonious assault, and robbery. Details of the violent morning were first brought to light when Law&Crime covered the shooting and carjacking incident that occurred in Cleveland on January 2. Local ABC affiliate WEWS unveiled new information, revealing Loftis’s alleged attack on another woman approximately a half-hour before the carjacking.

The initial incident unfolded as a woman waited for a bus. Loftis allegedly approached her with an unsettling apology— “Sorry to do this to you”—before brandishing a firearm. He reportedly fired a shot into the ground, then attacked her by pistol-whipping and robbing her of her cellphone, an assault captured on street surveillance cameras. Intriguingly, he later returned the phone to her.

The violent spree continued around 7:30 a.m. on January 2, along Madison Avenue in Cleveland. According to police reports, Loftis approached the second victim, threatening her with a gun and demanding money. When she claimed to have no cash, Loftis allegedly attempted to snatch her keys. A struggle ensued, during which the gun discharged, tragically hitting her in the face.

Authorities described the incident as a “brazen and reckless act,” highlighting the severe risk posed not only to the victim but also to the young child present during this terrifying ordeal. The sheer audacity of these crimes underscores the urgent need for justice and community safety.

The victim’s daughter told local Fox affiliate WJW that Loftis grabbed the boy and threw him out of the car and into the snow before driving away. Cops recovered the stolen car not long after the robbery. Further investigation revealed Loftis as the suspect.

Officers arrested Loftis on Jan. 3 at a home on the city’s east side. He was taken to the Cuyahoga County Jail on charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery.

“This was a senseless and violent crime carried out with complete disregard for human life,” Cleveland Police Chief Dorothy A. Todd said in a statement. “Because of the decisive and relentless work of our officers and detectives, this dangerous individual is now off our streets. Our thoughts are with the victim as she recovers from this traumatic event. We are grateful that she is in stable condition and that the child who was with her was not physically harmed.”

Loftis remains in jail on a $500,000 bond. Court records indicate that he has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1997.

The victim’s daughter told WEWS that she hopes the suspect remains behind bars.

“I just wish we could get justice for my mom and that lady because there’s no reason the guy should be out on the streets or anything,” she said.