COLUMBUS – A 16-year-old died and a 17-year-old was injured in a shooting early Thursday morning on the East Side.
Columbus police officers called to the BP Gas Station at the intersection of E. Main Street at James Road at approximately 1:56 a.m. on a report of multiple gunshots being fired found the 17-year-old, whose name was not released, on the gas station lot suffering from multiple gunshot wound, Homicide Unit Sgt. Jeff Strayer said. He was taken to Grant Medical Center in stable condition.
About an hour later, Marquelis Shaquan Barnes, 16, was found in the front yard of a nearby address, was also suffering from gunshot wounds. Strayer says he was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:06 a.m.
Investigators found that the two teens were involved in a fight with a group of men outside the gas station when at least one of the men fired multiple shots at the two victims, Strayer said.
The investigation continues.
This is the 66th homicide in Columbus in 2017.
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.