Candace Lynn Carr, a 41-year-old African American woman from Columbus, Ohio, was tragically shot and killed in her home on South Wheatland Avenue on September 19, 2020. Alongside her, her boyfriend, Lionel Adams, aged 60, was also found deceased. Another woman in the home was shot in the face but survived and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
The Columbus Division of Police launched an investigation into the incident, which was part of a violent summer in Columbus that saw
a significant number of homicides. The investigation revealed that Andrea Montgomery, a 45-year-old woman known by the street name "Chocolate," had brought an unidentified shooter into the home as part of a robbery. Although Montgomery did not pull the trigger herself, she was charged with murder under Ohio law, which allows for such charges if someone dies during the commission of a felony.
In a dramatic turn of events, a Franklin County jury acquitted Montgomery of all charges related to the shooting on November 7, 2024. The jury found that while Montgomery had facilitated the robbery, she was not directly responsible for the deaths of Carr and Adams. The shooter remains unidentified, and the case remains unsolved.
The loss of Candace Carr, a beloved mother of five, deeply affected her family and community. Her daughter, Alexias Carr, spoke out about her mother's efforts to better herself and the impact her death had on the family. Despite the acquittal of Montgomery, the Carr family continues to seek justice for Candace and Lionel Adams.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement and communities in addressing violent crime and bringing perpetrators to justice. The unsolved nature of the case leaves many questions unanswered and underscores the need for continued efforts to prevent such tragedies in the future.
