Naika Brown, a 46-year-old woman from Columbus, OH, was tragically shot and killed on December 15, 2016. She was found unresponsive from a gunshot wound at her apartment in the Aston Villas complex on Citizens Place. Brown was pronounced dead at the scene by Columbus Fire Medics at 5:38 a.m.
The suspect in her murder, 19-year-old Jakobe Raekwon McCall, was arrested later that day. McCall, who was considered armed and dangerous, was found in the 500 block of East Town Street.
According to police reports, McCall and Brown had been arguing just before the shooting occurred. McCall reportedly told a witness that he didn't mean to shoot Brown.
McCall's criminal history includes multiple arrests and charges of assault in North Carolina. He had been arrested at least five times and was known to have assaulted his mother on two separate occasions. Despite his troubled past, neighbors and friends described Brown as a kind and generous person who often helped others, including trafficking victims and recovering addicts.
The investigation revealed that McCall and Brown were second cousins, and McCall had recently moved to Columbus. Neighbors reported hearing arguments and gunshots on the night of the incident. McCall was charged with murder, and the case was one of the 97 homicides in Columbus that year.
Brown's death was a significant loss to her community, as she was known for her compassion and willingness to help those in need. Her friends and neighbors remembered her fondly and expressed deep sorrow over her untimely death.
