Man shot in downtown Elyria now facing weapons, violence charges (UPDATED)

This story has been updated. ELYRIA — A man with a gunshot wound to his leg who flagged down police in downtown Elyria on Friday now faces domestic violence and weapons-related charges. Donovan Meinke was charged in Elyria Municipal Court after police determined he shot himself in the leg during a domestic disturbance in his downtown apartment. The incident also resulted in injuries to the 19-year-old woman Meinke was living with, police said. According to Elyria police, Meinke, 19, flagged down an officer in the 100 block of Middle Avenue shortly before 9:30 a.m. Friday. There was a visible gunshot wound to his leg, Detective Lt. Bill Lantz said in a news release. Officers and LifeCare provided first aid at the scene, and Meinke was taken to University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center. Officers at the scene said the injuries didn't appear to be life-threatening. A 19-year-old woman with facial injuries also was taken to UH Elyria for treatment, Lantz said. Police said Meinke and the woman were living together in a Middle Avenue apartment. Lantz confirmed that Meinke somehow shot himself in the leg. Meinke is charged with improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation, disrupting public services and domestic violence, misdemeanors. His first appearance in Elyria Municipal Court is scheduled Monday morning, according to court records. Meinke, who turned 19 in February, has pleaded not guilty to weapons violations in a separate case making its way through Lorain County Common Pleas Court. In that case, Avon police charged Meinke with carrying a concealed weapon and improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle, both felonies, on Oct. 21, according to Avon Lake Municipal Court records. An Avon police report states that Meinke was the passenger in a silver 2010 Hyundai Genesis pulled over on Interstate 90 just before 2 p.m. Oct. 21. A very brief report states that the officer stopped the car for excessive window tint and Meinke was arrested for illegal possession of a loaded Springfield Armory XDE handgun. He wasn't allowed to have the gun beause there was a warrant out for his arrest through the Westlake Police Department in Cuyahoga County. Meinke's next court appearance in that case is set in Judge Mark Betleski's court for March 14, according to court records. He is represented by attorney Michael Stepanik. Meinke also was charged in Rocky River Municipal Court, where he is accused of waving a gun in the drive-thru at the Raising Cane's restaurant on Brookpark Road in North Olmsted on Dec. 29, as reported by West Life News on Jan. 26. Indicted on felony charges of carrying a concealed weapon and improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court on Feb. 9, Meinke pleaded not guilty in that case and was released on bond. Stepanik also is representing Meinke on those charges. Stepanik declined any comment on Friday's events. Meinke's first pretrial hearing in Cuyahoga County is scheduled in Judge Timothy McCormick's courtroom in Cleveland on March 14, according to court records there. A forfeiture specification to those charges will require Meinke to forfeit a .45-caliber Norinco 1911 handgun to the state if convicted. Photographer Bruce Bishop contributed to this story. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @daveobrienCT.