OAN’s Avril Elfie
4:12pm – Saturday, May 18, 2024
Three people were killed and three others injured in a mass shooting in Columbus, Ohio.
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Columbus police said the shooting was reported just before 3 a.m. Saturday in the Italian Village neighborhood north of downtown Columbus. There were reports of a car “pulling off” and possible automatic or semi-automatic gunfire.
Deputy Chief Gregory Bodker told media that when police arrived two minutes later, they found six people shot at a “very chaotic scene.”
Three people were pronounced dead and three others were taken to hospitals, two in stable condition and one in critical condition, Bodker said.
The identity of the victim remains under investigation, Bodker said, noting that investigators are speaking with a number of cooperating witnesses. He said there was a bar around the corner, but it wasn’t immediately clear whether the people involved frequented the establishment.
Bodker said a motive for the shooting was quickly determined, but it was unclear how many suspects were involved.
Drones were being used by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office to help document crime scenes where law enforcement was collecting video and evidence.
A spokesperson for Mayor Andrew Ginther’s (D-Ohio) office issued the following statement to reporters:
“Police are continuing to investigate last night’s events to help us better understand what happened. Our country leads the country in reducing violent crime, with the lowest number of murders in a year compared to the past eight years. However, this has been a particularly difficult and tragic week for our community and our employees. We remain vigilant in our prevention, intervention, and enforcement efforts to strengthen safety and security across Columbus. I will continue to work hard.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477 (TIPS).
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