Ryan Alexander Ward was a car enthusiast, a talented musician, and a lover of nature who managed Valvoline locations in Pickerington and New Albany, Ohio. The 27-year-old man is remembered by loved ones as an optimistic and energetic person who always saw the glass as half full. His partner, Angelica Mae Ward, called him a "beacon of light," a great friend, son, and brother who dreamed of one day becoming a father.
His father, Ronald, described him simply as "a great man, a great boyfriend."
On the evening of Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Ryan was at a home in the Hilltop neighborhood of West Columbus. According to a police affidavit, he received a phone call from his former roommate, David Estrada, who asked him to come outside. Moments later, just after 8 p.m., gunfire erupted on the first block of North Burgess Avenue, near West Broad Street. Neighbors called 911, with one caller reporting they heard about seven shots fired. When Columbus Division of Police officers arrived, they found Ryan lying in the street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Grant Medical Center in critical condition but died from his injuries a short time later.
Investigators quickly identified 22-year-old David Estrada as the primary suspect. Police said Estrada fled the scene in a silver Honda, sparking a multi-agency pursuit. Officers located the vehicle and gave chase, with the pursuit stretching into Fairfield County. The chase finally ended when Estrada crashed his car on U.S. Route 33 near the village of Sugar Grove, close to the Fairfield-Hocking County line. With assistance from the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Columbus police took Estrada into custody at the crash site.
Estrada was arrested and charged with murder for the death of his former roommate. He was booked into the Franklin County Jail. Two days after the shooting, on Thursday, October 1, Estrada made his initial court appearance. Ryan's father, Ronald Ward, attended the hearing and told reporters he couldn't take his eyes off the man accused of killing his son. A judge set Estrada's bond at $5 million.
The killing left Ryan's family and friends searching for answers. His friend, Elizabeth Phoung, speaking on behalf of Angelica, said, "I have not really met someone who would not only be a good person but make my best friend so happy. It is all, it is just very hard.” She added, "I hope we can get answers. It may not bring him back, but I hope he does get what he kind of deserves, justice-wise.”
In a message shared with the public, Angelica expressed the profound loss her family was experiencing. "Ryan is a beacon of light to his loved ones, his community and his loss is catastrophic to us," she wrote. "No amount of justice that could be brought, will ever replace the love that he put out into his world and the amount of kindness he showed to everyone. We lost a great friend, son, brother and a partner. This man had dreams of becoming a father and he will not get to experience that."
Ryan was survived by his wife Angelica, his father Ronald, and his brothers Jonathan and Ronald. He was preceded in death by his mother, Alison Faye Ward, and his sister, Ashley Marie. A memorial gathering was held for friends and family on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at a funeral home in Columbus. As of October 2026, the murder case against David Estrada was proceeding through the court system.
