On April 16, 2014, Deon Johnson, a 36-year-old male, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the North YMCA located at 1640 Sandalwood Place in Columbus, Ohio. The incident occurred around 4:00 PM, when police responded to reports of a shooting in the area. Deon Johnson was found inside his vehicle, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound. Witnesses reported seeing three or four male suspects fleeing the scene in a grey or beige early 2000's model Chevy Impala.
The shooting reportedly followed an argument in the YMCA parking lot. It was confirmed that there was no connection between the incident and the YMCA itself, although the proximity of the shooting to the facility caused panic among children and parents who were present at the time. As soon as shots were fired, YMCA staff took immediate action, locking down the building to protect those inside.
The investigation into the homicide is still ongoing, with Columbus police searching for the individuals involved. This marked the 23rd homicide in Columbus for the year 2014. The Columbus Police Department continues to encourage anyone with information about the case to contact their homicide unit or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.
