On June 25, 2022, Neal Smith, a 24-year-old man from Columbus, Ohio, was fatally shot in the northeast part of the city. Smith was walking home after cashing his paycheck at a local market when he was confronted by three suspects. According to witnesses, Smith yelled "just take it!" before he was shot multiple times. A bystander, who was not involved in the incident, was also struck by gunfire but survived her injuries.
The suspects, identified as 16-year-old Taywaun Gavin, 17-year-old
Jebrelle McClendon, and 21-year-old Ke'anu Logan, were seen on surveillance video closely watching Smith in the market before following him in a vehicle. After the shooting, the suspects fled the scene in the vehicle. Columbus police later arrested all three suspects on charges of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery. Logan was taken into custody in Michigan, while Gavin and McClendon were arrested in Columbus.
The investigation revealed that the suspects decided to rob Smith after seeing him with cash from the market. Despite Smith's attempt to comply with their demands, the suspects shot him multiple times. The case drew significant attention from the community and law enforcement, leading to the swift arrests of the suspects.
Neal Smith's death was the 61st homicide in Columbus in 2022, highlighting the ongoing issue of violent crime in the city. The arrests of the suspects brought some closure to Smith's family and the community, but the incident underscored the need for continued efforts to address and prevent such violent acts.
