In the early morning hours of Sunday, June 1, 2025, a discovery was made inside an apartment at the Azalea Ridge apartment complex on Boxwood Boulevard in Columbus, Georgia, that would spark a homicide investigation. A 24-year-old male, identified as Rownee Ortiz-Ocasio, was found deceased. The Columbus Police Department's Violent Crimes Unit was called to the scene to begin their investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
The Muscogee County Coroner, Buddy Bryan,
confirmed the identity of Ortiz-Ocasio and ordered his body to be transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for an autopsy to determine the official cause of death. In the initial stages of the investigation, Coroner Bryan stated his belief that Ortiz-Ocasio had been shot and that he was thought to be involved in a home invasion at the time of his death.
As of the latest available information, the Columbus Police Department's investigation into the death of Rownee Ortiz-Ocasio is ongoing. Details regarding the official findings of the autopsy have not been publicly released. There have been no announcements of any arrests made or suspects identified in connection with the incident. The narrative of that early summer morning remains defined by the initial discovery and the ongoing quest for answers by law enforcement.
