A Chatham man charged with attempted murder following a shooting in downtown Chatham has been granted bail after his initial application was denied last year.
The accused shooter, Jared Atwell, 26, appeared in Chatham's Superior Court of Justice again on Friday afternoon to receive a decision on his release.
Justice Michael Carnegie told the judgement hearing that Atwell's detention was no longer justified after spending 341 days in pre-sentence custody at Sarnia Jail.
"There does not appear to be any basis for concluding that the applicant poses a substantial likelihood of re-offending if released, let alone violently and/or with a firearm," said Justice Carnagie.
The time in custody includes 120 days served after he pleaded guilty to drug charges in December 2023 when he was found with cocaine the night of the shooting on April 30, 2023.
Atwell's first attempt at being released on bail was denied in August of 2023.
This time, Atwell's mother has put up $25,000 to get her son out of jail and she will be his surety during his house arrest.
Justice Carnegie imposed several bail conditions on Atwell, including that he must wear a GPS monitor at all times and must stay away from the shooting victim and witnesses. Atwell is also banned from possessing firearms or any other weapon and drugs.
Atwell has no criminal record.
He has a two-day preliminary inquiry set to start on May 16, 2024 in Chatham's Ontario Court of Justice.
The court previously heard that the victim, Kyle Wright-Morgan, 33, was hit by three bullets, in the neck, in the lung, and in the hip, and was taken to hospital after the shooting in the area of King Street West and Fifth Street in downtown Chatham early on a Sunday morning on April 30, 2023.
Chatham-Kent police previously said the victim was shot after having a confrontation with the suspect at around 1 a.m. as the bars were about to close.
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