On July 12, 2005, Sanikqua Hester, a 23-year-old male, was found fatally shot at 531 Lilley Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. He had sustained two gunshot wounds—one to the head and one to the torso. This incident, which occurred in Franklin County, was classified as a homicide by the Columbus Police Department, and the case remained unsolved for years before eventually being linked to gang-related activities involving the Short North Posse.
Years later, the investigation uncovered that Sanikqua Hester's death was connected to gang violence orchestrated by the Short North Posse, a notorious gang in the Columbus area. In 2017, Lance Green, a member of the Short North Posse, was sentenced to 23 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Hester's murder. This was part of a broader federal investigation that targeted the gang, resulting in the conviction of several members for various crimes, including homicides and racketeering. The sentencing of Green and other gang members provided some measure of justice for Hester's family, as law enforcement worked to dismantle the gang’s operations in Columbus.
Despite these convictions, law enforcement officials still encourage anyone with more information about the circumstances surrounding Sanikqua Hester's murder to come forward, as additional leads could help provide further closure for his family. The case is listed among the Ohio Attorney General's cold cases, and the Columbus Police Department remains open to new information that could help fully resolve this tragic event.
