Anthony Butts Sr., a 30-year-old African American man from Columbus, Ohio, tragically lost his life on May 15, 2021. He was fatally shot during a shootout in the South Linden area. The incident occurred around 10:08 p.m. on East 18th Avenue, where Butts was found shot and later pronounced dead at 11:18 p.m.
The investigation revealed that Anthony Wilkes, a 22-year-old man, was involved in the altercation that led to Butts' death.
Wilkes was found wounded at the scene and was later charged with murder in connection with Butts' death. According to court records, witnesses identified Wilkes as being involved in the shootout.
The case went to trial, and the jury found Wilkes not guilty on one murder count but was hung on the second count. The jury could not reach a unanimous decision on whether Wilkes was guilty of felony assault causing Butts' death. However, Wilkes was found guilty of tampering with evidence for allegedly hiding his gun after the shooting.
The Franklin County Prosecutor's Office is considering whether to retry Wilkes on the second murder charge. Wilkes' defense argued that he acted in self-defense, believing Butts was going to take his gun and shoot him. The trial highlighted the complexities of self-defense claims and the challenges of proving intent in such cases.
Butts' death was one of many homicides in Columbus in 2021, reflecting the ongoing issue of gun violence in the city. The community continues to seek justice and solutions to address the root causes of such violence.
