On August 23, 2024, at approximately 8:57 p.m., a tragic incident occurred in the parking lot of a Home Depot store located at 100 South Grener Ave. in west Franklin County, Ohio. Javier Roberto Ventura-Sanchez, a 20-year-old man, was fatally shot during a meeting with a 17-year-old boy following a previous argument.
Deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a shooting just before 9 p.m. Upon arrival, they found Ventura-Sanchez suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper chest. He was immediately transported to Doctors Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:45 p.m.
Investigators have identified the suspect as Francisco Calvillo, a 17-year-old male. According to the sheriff's office, Ventura-Sanchez and a friend had gone to the parking lot to meet with Calvillo. During this encounter, Calvillo allegedly opened fire, striking Ventura-Sanchez before fleeing the scene.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office has issued an arrest warrant for Calvillo, charging him with aggravated murder. As of August 28, 2024, Calvillo remained at large, with authorities actively searching for his whereabouts.
In connection with the investigation, law enforcement impounded and searched a gray 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 believed to have been driven by Calvillo. The vehicle was discovered unoccupied on August 24 in the 3900 block of East Broad Street in Whitehall. Inside the truck, investigators found six .22-caliber rifle casings and a gun cartridge containing additional bullets of the same caliber.
Javier Roberto Ventura-Sanchez is survived by his parents, Nicolas Ventura and Belen Sanchez, as well as his siblings Neli, Nancy, Maria, and Abelardo. A funeral Mass for Ventura-Sanchez was scheduled for August 30, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadelupe in Columbus, with burial to follow at Galloway Cemetery.
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office has urged anyone with information about the shooting or Francisco Calvillo's whereabouts to contact their Detective Bureau. They have emphasized that anonymous tips will be accepted as they continue their efforts to apprehend the suspect and bring closure to this tragic case.
