COLUMBUS – A man and a woman are dead following shooting incidents at two Columbus parks on the first warm, sunny day of spring.
Detectives believe an argument between two groups of people at Nafzger Park, 2845 Noe-Bixby Road, led to a deadly shooting just after 6:00 p.m. Saturday, Sgt. David Shimberg of the Columbus police homicide unit said.
Officers dispatched to the scene at 6:10 p.m. found an unresponsive man lying in the grass.
The officers rendered medical aid until paramedics arrived and transported the victim to a hospital where he died just after 7:00 p.m.
UPDATE 4/26/22 9:22 a.m.: The victim in this incident has been identified as Damario Dawson, 19, Shimberg said.
This incident is still under investigation.
A shootout that erupted during a cookout at Saunders Park in the 1300 block of Atcheson Street at 8:24 p.m. left a woman dead and at least one other person injured, Sgt. James Marable of the homicide unit said.
Officers called to the park on a report of a shooting found two women suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.
Columbus paramedics pronounced a 20-year-old woman, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, dead at the scene, Marable said.
A 19-year-old woman was taken to Grant Medical Center in stable condition.
A third person, who left the scene prior to the officers’ arrival, may have been struck during the exchange of gunfire, Marable said.
These were the 33rd and 34th homicides in Columbus this year.
Man shot on Hilltop
Columbus police are investigating the fatal shooting of a man on the Hilltop early Monday.
UPDATE 4/29/22 9:57 a.m.: This article has been updated. Police have released the name of the deceased victim.
Officers dispatched to the 100 Block of Whitethorne Avenue on a report of shots fired at approximately 3:08 a.m. found the victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, Sgt. Edward Powell III of the homicide unit.
Columbus Division of Fire personnel pronounced the man dead at at the scene, the 35th homicide victim in Columbus in 2022.
The deceased victim has been identified as Darwin Garcia, 25, Powell said.
UPDATE: A 33-year-old man who was shot during this incident was listed in serious but stable condition at Grant Medical Center, Powell said.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).