Thomas Hritzo III was an 18-year-old male from the Hilliard, Ohio, area. A fundraiser organized for his family after his death described him as a "beautiful boy who was bright and sweet" with his whole life ahead of him. He left behind his parents, Tom and Rochelle, and a younger 14-year-old brother, Matteo.
On the night of Saturday, December 3, 2022, Columbus police responded to a report of an injury accident near Sawmill Road and Stone Lake Drive in the northwest part of the city.
Shortly before 9:10 p.m., officers found Thomas unresponsive inside his vehicle. Paramedics transported him to a local hospital in critical condition.
At the hospital, staff discovered that Thomas was suffering from a gunshot wound. He succumbed to his injuries the following afternoon, Sunday, December 4, 2022, and was pronounced dead at 2:07 p.m. His death was investigated as the 131st homicide in Columbus for that year.
The investigation led police to identify four teenage suspects. On December 29, 2022, the Columbus Division of Police announced that arrest warrants had been issued for Kasey Russell, 17; Hunter Krouse, 15; Marquel King, 14; and Brent Boggs, 14. All four were charged with murder and aggravated robbery. Shortly thereafter, authorities confirmed that all four suspects had either been arrested or had turned themselves in and were in custody.
Following the arrests, the case proceeded through the juvenile court system. At least two of the four teenagers charged in connection with Thomas's death subsequently pleaded guilty. They were sentenced to serve time in a youth prison.
