COLUMBUS – Two men were killed in separate shooting incidents Wednesday night, including another deadly shooting in a Columbus city park, the second shooting in a park in three days.
Three people have been killed in shootings in city parks in the last two weeks.
A 19-year-old man was killed and a teenager was hospitalized after gunfire broke out among a large group of people who had gathered just after 6:30 p.m. at Westgate Park, 455 S. Westgate Avenue on the West Side, to watch a fight, Sgt. James Marable of the Columbus police homicide unit.
The man, whose name was withheld pending notification of next-of-kin, was pronounced dead at the scene while Marable says a 17-year-old boy was taken to Doctor’s West Hospital in stable condition.
During the fight, Marable says at least two individuals brandished firearms and began firing and many of the witnesses fled the scene prior to the arrival of the first responding officers.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).
The shooting happened just two days after two people were injured in a shooting in the area of Bicentennial Park in downtown Columbus
At approximately 9:18 p.m. Monday, officers dispatched to the area of Civic Center Drive and W. Rich Street on a report of a shooting found a 17-year-old boy who was taken to the hospital with an apparent gunshot wound to his lower extremities. He was listed in stable condition, Sgt. James Jardine of the Felony Assault Unit said
About 20 minutes later officers dispatched to another hospital on a report of a second shooting victim found an 18-year-old man who told police that he has been struck by gunfire while riding a scooter on High Street. It was later determined that he had been hit by gunfire in the same area as the teen.
Both victims are expected to recover from their injuries, Jardine said.
This incident is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the felony assault unit at 614-645-4987 or Crime Stoppers.
One dead in East Side shooting
Another fatal shooting Wednesday night raised the total number of homicides in Columbus this year to 41.
Officers responding to a reported shooting in the 6000 Block of McNaughten Center at approximately 9:52 p.m. found a 21-year-old man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, Sgt. Edward Powell III said.
Raquan Thomas died later at Mount Carmel East Hospital, the 41st homicide victim of the year in Columbus.
The incident is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call Columbus police or Crime Stoppers.