Javon Jaraé Starghill, a 21-year-old African American male from Columbus, Ohio, tragically lost his life on January 16, 2014, after being critically injured in a shooting incident on January 9, 2014. Javon was sitting in a car with his friend Jeremy Head, 25, and a 17-year-old girl when they were attacked by gunfire outside a home on Harland Drive on the South Side of Columbus.
Jeremy Head was pronounced dead at the scene, while Javon was rushed to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center in critical condition. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Javon succumbed to his injuries seven days later.
The investigation into Javon's death revealed that the shooting was likely drug-related. About six months after the incident, police arrested a 19-year-old man, Anton K. Martin, in connection with the homicides. However, the charges against Martin were later dismissed after he passed a polygraph test and an identification by a witness was not definitive. The case remains unsolved, and the Columbus Police Department's Homicide Cold Case Unit continues to seek tips and information to bring justice to Javon's family and friends.
Javon's mother, Kimberly Starghill, has been vocal about seeking justice for her son and has started a support group for parents who have lost children to violence. The group, Journey to Just Surviving, aims to provide support and resources to families navigating the difficult journey of grief and loss. Kimberly Starghill has expressed her hope that someone will come forward with information that can help solve the case and bring closure to her family.
Javon's legacy lives on through his children and the lives he saved as an organ donor. His family and friends remember him as a kind and caring individual who always thought of others. The community continues to honor his memory and support the ongoing efforts to find those responsible for his death.
