COLUMBUS – The first half of 2019 in Columbus ended with 54 homicides, counting the deaths of two men fatally shot on Saturday.
Abdalla Shegow Aboke was found shot to death in a Hilltop parking lot following an argument early Saturday morning and John Edward Habern III was killed by man whose brother was fighting with Habern at a South Side apartment complex Saturday night, Sgt. J.R. Strayer of the Homicide Unit said.
At 4:51 a.m., officers summoned to the intersection of Sullivant Avenue and Holly Hill Drive on a report of a shooting found Aboke, 32, lying in a parking lot suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, Strayer said.
Columbus paramedics took him to Grant Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead at 5:32 a.m., Strayer said.
Witnesses told police they believed the incident was the result of an earlier argument, Strayer said.
UPDATE 7/8/9:03 a.m.: Columbus Homicide Unit detectives have charged Ali Jeylani Sheikh, 23, with murder for the shooting death of Abdalla Shegow Aboke as video surveillance cameras captured the incident in the parking lot. Sheikh has been arrested and is currently being held at the Franklin County Jail.
The investigation continues.
Two brothers from Las Vegas have been charged in connection with the death of Habern, 29, who was found shot multiple times on the street in the 300 block of Stanaford Place, Strayer said.
Officers called to the area at 8:15 p.m., found Habern lying in the street and he died approximately a half hour later at Grant Medical Center, Strayer said.
Witnesses told detectives Habern and Darryl Duff, 17, of Las Vegas, were fighting when Duff’s brother, Daez, 20, pulled a firearm and fired several shots, fatally wounding Habern, according to Strayer.
The brothers drove away from the scene but were arrested a short time later by patrol officers.
Both men were charged with murder but Strayer says the investigation continues.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS.