On Wednesday morning, a 16-year-old from Canal Winchester High School whom the police mistook to be an intruder was shot and killed by her father.
The shooting was reported in the 5400 block of Piper Ridge Drive, located in the Lehman Meadows subdivision off Gender Road in the southeast of the city.
Police said they received a call around 4:30 a.m. saying that someone inside the house had shot what he believed to be someone breaking into after the house’s security system was activated.
The 16-year-old Janae Hairston was rushed to Mount Carmel East Hospital, where she died about an hour later.
Looking for solutions :Homicides have increased in Columbus and cities across the United States. What are the causes ?
Hairston’s social media profile mirrors that of a typical teenage girl, with numerous selfies and other photographs showing her smiling. Several articles show her discussing getting a job and trying to decide whether to stay close to home or go further away for college.
Hairston was a junior at Canal Winchester High School, the district confirmed on Wednesday. The district, in a note to families, said counselors would be available when students return from winter vacation and provided links to more easily accessible resources for students and their parents as they deal with the loss.
Detectives continue to investigate Hairston’s death, the seventh homicide reported in Columbus in a week and the third in three days. The case will be referred to the Franklin County District Attorney’s office for review.
Police were called to the 400 block of Markison Avenue at around 5 p.m. on Tuesday evening over a report of a shooting. Officers found a man who had been shot and rushed to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center. The man, Darold Reese, 38, from the southeast side of town, died around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Also on Tuesday, police said the Franklin County Coroner’s Office classified a man’s death in March as homicide, making it the city’s 200th homicide for 2021.
Homicide Database:Here’s where homicides took place in Columbus
Bobby Nesbitt, 58, died on March 10 after falling unconscious when a family member immobilized him in an altercation at his home in Berwick, police said.
According to a Columbus Police press release, officers were called at around 4:10 p.m. that day at the 1600 block of Rose View Drive, located east of College Avenue / Route 33, and found Nesbitt unconscious. Nesbitt was taken to Grant Medical Center, where he died.
Police said they discovered during their investigation that Nesbitt stabbed a family member with scissors during the altercation and that the family member then immobilized Nesbitt, rendering him unconscious.
According to an autopsy report, Nesbitt died after cardiac arrest, caused by the physical altercation.
No charges were laid in the case on Wednesday and the case has been sent to the Franklin County District Attorney’s office for review, which is standard policy.
Police are also continuing their investigation into the shooting death of Preston Bell, 22, who was found gunned down on the 1100 block of Shady Lane Road, on the city’s East Side, around 4:40 a.m. Monday.
And the investigation continues into the death of Imam Mohamed Hassan Adam, found dead Friday afternoon in a car on the north side. A service to honor the life of Adam will be held during Asr’s prayer time around 3:10 p.m. Thursday at Ibnu Taymiyah Masjid, 2334 Mock Road, in the northeast of the city.
Following:The service will take place on Thursday for the assassinated Imam Mohamed Hassan Adam
Police also said on Wednesday that a second suspect was arrested in connection with a homicide on October 31. David Peton Jr., 20, attended police headquarters after being charged with criminal assault and murder in connection with the death of Nazeer Winton, 21. Winton was shot and killed in the 3200 block of Rabbit Hill Lane on October 31. Othman Abdu, 18, had previously been arrested and charged in connection with the case.
There have now been 202 homicides reported in Columbus in 2021, the deadliest year in the city’s history.
Anyone with information about a homicide is urged to call detectives at 614-645-4730 or provide information anonymously through Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS.
Expedition reporters Eric Lagatta and Michael Lee contributed to this report.
bbruner@dispatch.com
@bethany_bruner
Comments are closed.