Ohio Father Posed as His 11-Year-Old Daughter on TikTok to Lure an Alleged Sexual Assailant — Then Shot Him

Part 1: A Mother Discovers a Disturbing Video

The case began with a discovery no parent would ever want to make.

In July 2026, the mother of an 11-year-old girl in Grove City, Ohio, contacted police after discovering a video on her daughter's phone that appeared to show the child being sexually assaulted.

According to reports and court records cited by local media, the discovery prompted an investigation into a 20-year-old man, Diego Montoya Gonzalez, who was subsequently accused of sexually assaulting the girl. Gonzalez later faced serious criminal charges connected to the allegations.

The situation quickly became more complicated.

Rather than simply waiting for investigators to determine what had happened, the girl's father, 31-year-old Malik Chandler, allegedly decided to confront the man he believed had harmed his daughter.

What happened next would turn the case into a story that spread rapidly across social media.

According to court records reported by WHIO and WSYX/ABC 6, Chandler began communicating with Gonzalez through TikTok. Investigators said Chandler was posing as his 11-year-old daughter while communicating with the man. (WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio)

The purpose, authorities say, was to persuade Gonzalez to return to the family's home.

Chandler allegedly wanted Gonzalez to come to the residence so he could confront him.

The encounter took place on July 16, the day after the girl's mother reportedly discovered the video.

When Gonzalez arrived at Chandler's Grove City home, the confrontation quickly escalated.

Police later found Gonzalez with two gunshot wounds. He was taken to Grant Medical Center in Columbus for treatment and survived the shooting. (WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio)

The initial viral version of the story described Chandler as having “shot his daughter's rapist.” But legally, that wording is too definitive.

At the time of the reports, Gonzalez was an accused sexual offender, not someone who had been convicted of the alleged crimes. He later pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him. (Us)

That distinction matters, particularly in a criminal case that was still moving through the courts.

But the allegations against Gonzalez became even more serious as investigators examined the evidence.

Part 2: The TikTok Trap

According to investigators, Chandler did not simply confront Gonzalez spontaneously.

He allegedly created an online conversation designed to bring the man to his home.