On August 19, 2021, 34-year-old Alyse Edwards was tragically shot and killed in her apartment on Eakin Road in Columbus, Ohio. Police were called to the scene early in the morning and found Edwards with a gunshot wound to her abdomen. She was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly after. Witnesses reported hearing a loud argument between Edwards and her boyfriend, 33-year-old Cortez Jackson, before the gunshot was heard.
Cortez Jackson was arrested and charged with two counts of murder, tampering with evidence, and having weapons while under disability. The case went to trial, and on April 6, 2023, a Franklin County jury found Jackson guilty of one count of murder and tampering with evidence. He was acquitted on the second murder charge but found guilty of possessing a weapon under disability. Jackson faces a sentence of 18 years to life in prison.
The trial revealed that Jackson initially claimed someone else shot Edwards, but later testified that he was trying to wrestle the gun away from her when it accidentally discharged. The jury determined that Jackson did not purposefully cause Edwards' death but did cause her death while committing felonious assault. The couple had three children together, and their 3-year-old daughter was present in the apartment at the time of the shooting.
The Franklin County Prosecutor's Office prosecuted the case, and Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Karen Held Phipps presided over the trial. Jackson's sentencing is scheduled for June 1, 2023. The case has drawn attention to issues of domestic violence and the impact on families and communities.
This tragic incident highlights the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the importance of addressing such issues to prevent future tragedies.
