COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 19-year-old East Side man will be in court today, facing charges in a double shooting that happened when a fight broke out between members of rival gangs at a party.
Police say trouble started Saturday night during a house party at 700 S. Champion Avenue when two groups of men started arguing and ended when Thomas Woodruff allegedly fired shots into a crowd of 50 people, injuring two people, including a 13-year-old girl.
Jovan Gayles, 22, was helping with the party and telling everyone to leave as members of the two groups began yelling their respective gang affiliations, police said.
Thomas Woodruff was out in the street when detectives say he brandished a gun and began firing shots into the crowd, hitting Gayles in the lower right leg and the teenage girl in the lower back.
The girl is in serious condition at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Woodruff was arrested on two counts of felonious assault and police say they are looking for two other men in connection with the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to call Columbus Police Assault Unit at 614-645-4141 or Crime Stoppers 614-645-TIPS.