COLUMBUS – A 63-year-old man found dead inside his Northeast Side home Monday afternoon became the 87th homicide victim of 2021 in Columbus.
Officers were called to the 1400 block of Fahlander Drive South at 12:17 p.m. after family members became concerned when they were unable to contact Randy Gwirtz, Sgt. James Marable of the Homicide Unit said. Gwirtz was found unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Franklin County Coroner’s Office has ruled that Gwirtz died as the result of a homicide and Marable says detectives are investigating.
The 87 homicides recorded so far this year in Columbus are nearly double the number reported by this time last year, when the city finished the year with a record 174 murders on the books. Police say 47% of the murders this year remain unsolved.
Anyone with information regarding the death of Randy Gwirtz is asked to call the Columbus police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).
Two teenagers are in jail, charged in connection with a double shooting outside a Franklinton fast-food restaurant last month that left a 16-year-old boy dead and a 32-year-old man injured, Sgt. James Marable of the Homicide Unit said.
Detectives have charged Jamale Jones, 16, with murder and felonious assault, and Jayontay Hoskins-Battle, 17, with felonious assault in the May 24 shooting in front of the Burger King at 1450 W. Broad Street.
Police say Ty-Sean Finch, 16, and Raymond Sims, 32, were shot as a result of a fight.