In the winter chill of a late Thursday evening in Columbus, Ohio, a verbal dispute in a parking lot escalated into a fatal encounter for Jon E. Small, a 32-year-old man. On January 22, 2026, Small was with another individual in the 4600 block of Tamarack Boulevard when they were attacked. The argument, with a man police later identified as 44-year-old Kenneth Milton, ended in gunfire.
Investigators believe that Small and Milton were acquainted with each other prior to the deadly confrontation.
Following the shooting, Small was transported to a local hospital, arriving around 11 p.m. with a gunshot wound. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on January 23, 2026. The other person with Small was not injured during the incident.
The alleged shooter, Kenneth Milton, fled the scene before law enforcement arrived. However, a swift investigation by the Columbus Division of Police led to his identification and subsequent arrest. Columbus SWAT officers apprehended Milton without incident within hours of the shooting. He was charged with one count of murder and one count of felonious assault and was booked into the Franklin County jail. His initial court appearance was scheduled for the Saturday following his arrest. The investigation remains ongoing, and detectives have asked for anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
