George Stultz, aged 53, was killed on July 21, 1969, during a period of civil unrest in Columbus, Ohio. While volunteering to assist with traffic management at the intersection of 18th and Main Streets, Stultz was struck by a sniper’s bullet. His death occurred amidst significant tensions following the shooting of Roy Beasley, a local Black resident, by a white business owner, which ignited days of protests and riots in the Near East Side of Columbus.
The incident, part of a turbulent era in Columbus, highlighted broader social tensions and ultimately led to the deployment of the Ohio National Guard, a curfew, and restricted alcohol sales to curb the unrest.
Stultz’s murder remains unsolved, and his case is documented among Ohio’s unsolved homicides. The Columbus Police Department and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation have kept his case open, appealing for any information that could lead to further understanding or resolution of his untimely death. Stultz’s killing, along with the events surrounding it, underscores the challenges and complex social dynamics of the time, which had lasting impacts on the Columbus community and city policies.
