Marlena June Hicks was remembered by her daughter as a "wonderfully wild, fun-loving, and deeply caring soul who genuinely never met a stranger." A 60-year-old mother and grandmother, Marlena spent most of her life in Columbus, Ohio. Her family was central to her world, and she loved visiting them and going dancing. She was a mother to four children, Carrie, Rebecca, Ricky, and William, and a doting grandmother to eight grandchildren.
Those who knew her felt she showed love to absolutely everyone she met. Her life, however, was also marked by profound loss, as she had been preceded in death by her parents, a daughter named Mary Catherine, and two grandchildren, Kayden and Jaxson.
The final moments of Marlena's life unfolded in the early morning hours of Sunday, October 4, 2026. At approximately 1:32 a.m., officers with the Columbus Division of Police were dispatched to a residence in the 6100 block of Zumstein Drive on the North Side following a report of a shooting. Inside, they discovered two people suffering from gunshot wounds: Marlena and her 38-year-old son, William David Smith II.
Paramedics from the Columbus Division of Fire arrived at the scene and immediately began to render aid. Marlena was rushed to Grant Medical Center in critical condition. Despite the extensive life-saving efforts of medical staff, she was pronounced dead at 2:33 a.m. Her son, William, was also transported to a local hospital with a gunshot wound that was described as non-life-threatening.
The Columbus Police Homicide Unit began an immediate investigation into the shooting. According to the preliminary findings released by police, the tragedy was the result of a firearm being handled unsafely. Investigators determined that William David Smith II was handling the gun when it discharged. The bullet wounded him and then fatally struck his mother, Marlena. The lead detective assigned to the case was Detective Rowlands, assisted by Detective Orahood.
In the aftermath of the fatal shooting, the investigation quickly concluded that the incident was not a malicious act but a reckless one. Based on the evidence, the Columbus Division of Police charged William David Smith II with reckless homicide, a third-degree felony in Ohio. Authorities stated that he would be taken to the Franklin County Jail to be booked on the charge as soon as he was released from the hospital for his own injuries. The case highlighted a weekend of domestic-related violence that had occurred across the city, prompting police to urge the community to seek help before disputes escalate.
In the days following her tragic death, Marlena's family announced plans to celebrate her life. Her daughter invited the community to join them, hoping to "wrap her in that same love" she had so freely given to others. A public memorial service was held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the North Broadway United Methodist Church in Columbus. Following the service, family and friends gathered for a potluck to share stories and remember the woman who had touched so many lives. As of October 2026, the criminal case against her son was proceeding through the justice system. Anyone with information regarding the incident was asked to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).
