Trump argument at dog park takes horrifying turn for Marine veteran

An argument over President Donald Trump at an Ohio dog park escalated from shouting to a physical confrontation, resulting in a Marine veteran being seriously wounded and both men facing criminal charges.

David Mattai, 55, had taken his Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Bob, to Centerville Mills Dog Park in Bainbridge in April when he overheard 80-year-old Emmanuel “Mike” Mathews discussing Trump with another dog owner. Mathews, a Trump supporter, claimed Trump was “the best president in history,” prompting Mattai, who described himself as a democratic socialist, to jump into the conversation and call Trump “the worst president in history,” according to The New York Times.

The discussion quickly escalated into a shouting match. Witness Jamie Jedlinsky reported that the men were eventually shouting at each other to “shut up.” Although Mattai initially left, he returned when Bob began whining.

Upon his return, the confrontation resumed. Mathews insulted Mattai's mother, which led Mattai to reach across a fence and grab Mathews by the hair. Jedlinsky intervened to separate them, but as the men approached their cars, he heard Mattai mention guns, saying, “Oh you’ve got one? I’ve got one, too.”

Mathews then retrieved a .45-caliber handgun and fired first, striking Mattai in the lower back. A subsequent pull of the trigger did not fire. In response, Mattai retrieved a 9-millimeter pistol and fired at least four rounds as Mathews drove away. The shots hit Mathews’ vehicle but missed him.

Mattai's wound tore through his intestines and fractured his spine. He underwent two surgeries, spent two weeks in the hospital, and needed months of rehabilitation. Now, he walks with a limp and states he can no longer return to his job as a forklift mechanic.

Mathews told police he believed his life was in danger and claimed Mattai had head-butted him before the shooting. Mattai denied head-butting Mathews but acknowledged grabbing his hair.

Mathews has been charged with second-degree felonious assault and has pleaded not guilty. His attorney, Ian Friedman, plans to argue self-defense under Ohio’s stand-your-ground law, with a trial scheduled for February.

Mattai was later charged with misdemeanor assault and disorderly conduct related to the alleged head-butt and faces up to six months in jail. The Times also reported that Mattai claimed to have served 10 years in the Marines, but official records indicate his service lasted less than a year. Afterward, Mattai admitted to embellishing his military record and issued an apology.

Following the shooting, Mattai said he poured out his vodka, discarded his political bumper stickers, and decided he would no longer confront strangers over politics, stating, “I got my own life sentence from this.”