COLUMBUS – A troubling rash of gun violence continued overnight in Columbus with at least four shootings that left a man dead in the Driving Park area and others that involved several children, including a 1-year-old was hit by broken glass when someone opened fire at a convenience store.
Tazhe Patterson was found lying in the street in front of 857 Seymour Avenue suffering from apparent gunshot wounds at approximately 11:05 p.m. by police officers responding to a report of shots fired, and was pronounced dead at the scene, Sgt. David Shimberg of the Homicide Unit said.
Police have little information as to the motive for the shooting and named no suspects.
This is the 787th homicide of the year in Columbus and occurred in almost exactly the same spot as another shooting a few days earlier. An 18-year-old man was shot in the leg while walking to his vehicle in the area of Seymour and Livingston avenues Saturday.
Anyone with information regarding the incident, is asked to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS.
A 1-year-old was hit by broken glass when someone opened fire at the 3C Food Mar, 4436 Westerville Road, hitting five vehicles and the building with bullets. The child was treated at the scene for their injuries, police said.
A 12-year-old was also in one of the vehicles hit by bullets but was not reported to be injured.
Twice as many felonious assaults were reported to police during the months of June and July this year, compared to last year, according to a report by WBNS 10-TV.
Two teens were injured in separate incidents late Tuesday.
A 16-year-old girl was shot in the left thigh while standing in the kitchen of a home in the 1800 block of Jermain Drive after someone fired at least 56 rounds at the residence just before 11:30 p.m., police said.
Police say she was taken to a hospital and is expected to recover from a minor injury.
A 17-year-old boy was shot as he approached a vehicle parked in the 2300 block of McGuffey Road at approximately 11:30 p.m.
Officers responding to a Shot Spotter alert were told the victim’s girlfriend had brought him to Grant Medical Center where police say he told investigators that he was approaching the parked vehicle when someone stuck a handgun out the back driver’ side window and fired several shots.
The teen was struck three times in the back but is expected to survive, police said.
Several witnesses were interviewed and were unable to provide any additional information.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact the Columbus Police Assault Unit at 614-645-4141 or central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).