On January 15, 2020, Christopher A.R. Santiago, a 29-year-old man from Columbus, OH, was fatally shot. Santiago, who was Hispanic, was killed during a car chase and shooting incident in the North Linden area. The incident began when Santiago was lured to the area under the pretense of a drug deal.
Shaulette Drain, a 42-year-old woman, was also present in Santiago's vehicle and was wounded during the shooting.
Drain later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and received four years of community control at the request of Santiago's family. Drain's involvement was due to her attempt to obtain drugs from the shooter, Daniel Ratliff.
Daniel Ratliff, a 27-year-old man, was arrested and charged with the death of Santiago. Ratliff admitted to pursuing Santiago's vehicle and shooting at it multiple times, causing Santiago to crash into a pole. Ratliff then exited his vehicle and continued to shoot at Santiago, ultimately leading to his death. Ratliff pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and felonious assault as part of a deal with Franklin County prosecutors to avoid a murder charge. He was sentenced to an indefinite prison term of 22 years to 27½ years.
The court documents revealed that Ratliff claimed Santiago attempted to rob and kill him prior to the incident, but Santiago's gun jammed. Ratliff's actions were described as an act of retribution for the alleged robbery of his drug house. During the sentencing hearing, Ratliff apologized to Santiago's family, but the judge did not believe he was genuinely remorseful.
The tragic incident highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in Columbus and the devastating impact it has on families and communities. Santiago's family expressed their forgiveness towards Drain and requested that she receive treatment for her substance use disorder.
