Amanda K. Perkins was a 36-year-old woman and the mother of two sons, Elijiah and Jeremiah. She was remembered as the love of her children's father's life. Her own life was cut short in a violent encounter on the evening of July 14, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio.
The tragedy unfolded outside the Van Buren Emergency Shelter in the Franklinton neighborhood. A man named Christopher O. Smith was arguing with his girlfriend, Casey Johnson. Amanda and another bystander, 40-year-old Rodney L.
Reavish, intervened to help. The pair went to Smith’s car to retrieve Johnson’s belongings and then sat down in front of the shelter.
Concerned that Smith was armed, Reavish called 911 for help. While he was still on the line with the dispatcher, Smith opened fire. He shot and killed Amanda first. Moments later, he shot Reavish in the chest. The entire horrific incident was captured on the audio of the 911 call.
Columbus police officers responded to reports of the shooting just before 11 p.m. They arrived to find Amanda and Rodney suffering from gunshot wounds in the parking lot. Paramedics pronounced Rodney deceased at 11:07 p.m. and Amanda at 11:11 p.m.
Detectives launched an investigation and, with the help of community members and video evidence from the scene, quickly developed a suspect. They identified Christopher O. Smith, who was 34 at the time, and arrested him the following day. He was charged with two counts of murder.
In March 2025, Christopher O. Smith was sentenced for the murders of Amanda Perkins and Rodney Reavish, as well as for the assault on his girlfriend. A judge ordered him to serve 59 years to life in prison.
