Do you know who murdered Caleb? On January 23, 2017, 22-year-old Caleb Killen was found dead along with his close friend Jawuan Reynolds in a vehicle located in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Eakin Road, near Wedgewood Drive, in Columbus, Ohio. The two victims were discovered at around 9:30 p.m. by police who were responding to reports of an individual attempting to ignite a rag inserted into the gas tank of the vehicle. Fortunately, the vehicle never caught fire, but the suspect fled before officers arrived.
Inside the car, both Killen and Reynolds were found unresponsive, having suffered fatal gunshot wounds to the head. Columbus Fire Department personnel responded to the scene, pronouncing both men dead shortly thereafter.
The investigation remained unsolved for several years. However, in 2024, Columbus police charged Paul A. Smith, a 24-year-old resident of Columbus, with two counts of murder in connection to the killings of Killen and Reynolds. Smith was linked to the crime through physical evidence, though it is believed that there may have been multiple individuals involved. Smith was taken into custody and his first court appearance was scheduled shortly after his arrest.
Caleb Killen's murder was part of a double homicide that deeply impacted the local community. Jawuan Reynolds, also known as Fam Staxx, was an aspiring rapper and well-known figure in the area. The incident drew significant attention due to its nature and the fact that the two victims were killed in such a public and violent manner. Authorities continue to seek additional information that could lead to the identification of any other parties involved, as the investigation is ongoing and more arrests could potentially be made in the future.
