COLUMBUS, Ohio – On Tuesday, police detained a guy on suspicion of shooting and killing a teenage boy at a gas station in southwest Columbus.
According to Sgt. Joe Albert of the Columbus Division of Police, officers were dispatched to the United Dairy Farmers gas station at 3535 Clime Rd. around 8:11 p.m. for a reported gunshot. According to 911 callers, Albert stated that the culprit, who was only identified as a guy, shot the victim in the parking lot before getting into a black Kia and leaving the scene.
Arriving authorities discovered one person with at least one gunshot wound. The victim, a 17-year-old male, was transported to Grant Medical Center and pronounced dead at 8:40 p.m.
Albert stated that around 10 minutes after the gunshot, police received an anonymous contact from the 3800 block of Linward Road, which is less than a mile from the shooting location.
The caller reported seeing a male driving a black Kia pull up to a property on Linward Road and act suspiciously, adding that he was concerned about a police helicopter flying overhead. The male entered the home but swiftly exited and got into a gold SUV.
A Columbus dispatcher thought the shooting and what the anonymous caller saw were related. Albert stated that the dispatcher sent the information to officers and the helicopter in the vicinity.
The aircraft swiftly located the SUV departing the area. Albert stated that the driver of the SUV did not stop for officers for a short period of time before stopping on Linward Road. The driver fled, but cops apprehended him. Police believe he is responsible for the shooting at UDF.
Albert credited the anonymous caller and dispatcher in apprehending the suspected shooter.
“This incident ended quickly. “We were able to solve this fairly quickly thanks to that anonymous caller,” Albert added.
The identities of the victim and suspect have not been revealed.