Roger Kenneth Pindell, a 26-year-old man from Columbus, OH, tragically lost his life on December 29, 2019. He was found shot in the back of a wrecked vehicle in the 500 block of Seymour Avenue on the Near East Side of Columbus. Pindell was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:09 a.m. Witnesses reported that a group of men inside the vehicle fled the scene after the shooting.
Police located a group carrying several guns about a mile from the scene.
Keyontay Perry, a 17-year-old from the Hilltop area, was arrested and charged with delinquency murder in connection with Pindell's death. Perry was also a victim of a shooting himself in November 2019, when he was shot multiple times at a home on South Burgess Avenue. The reasons for the Sunday morning shooting remain under investigation.
The case took a significant turn when Keyontay Perry, who was initially charged as a juvenile, had his case bound over to adult court. In October 2022, Perry pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony, with a specification for brandishing a firearm. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Karen Phipps sentenced Perry to a prison term of 14 years minimum to 19 years and six months. During the sentencing hearing, Perry apologized to Pindell's family, expressing regret and wishing he could change what happened.
Pindell's mother, Jonie Roberts, spoke through tears at the sentencing hearing, describing her son as loving and funny, and someone who wanted to better his life. She expressed the pain of losing him and the impact it had on their family.
This case highlights the tragic consequences of gun violence and the complex legal processes involved in seeking justice for victims and their families.
