Reginald Prince Purnell was a 48-year-old Black man whose life was remembered for its warmth and kindness. Born in Chicago, he later moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he worked as a security guard for Allied Security. His family recalled his passion for basketball, music, poetry, and the study of his Moorish American ancestors' culture. He was a husband to his wife, Jeryll, and a father to his sons, Reginald and DeAngelo, and daughters, Latrina and Retrina.
On the afternoon of June 24,
2024, Reginald Purnell was shot and killed inside a home on the 1200 block of Seymour Avenue in southeast Columbus. His body was discovered the following morning, just before 10 a.m. on June 25, after someone called 911 to report seeing a person lying on the floor of the residence. When officers arrived, they found Purnell and another man, 45-year-old Darrell Walker, both suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. Medics pronounced both men dead at the scene shortly after 10 a.m.
Initially, police had no suspects and asked the public for information. The investigation, however, soon focused on evidence that included cell phone data, video footage, and text messages. According to court documents, this evidence showed that Purnell and his 31-year-old son, Reginald M. Purnell, had arrived at the Seymour Avenue home at 2:47 p.m. on June 24. Investigators alleged they went there with the intention of burglarizing the residence, which belonged to Darrell Walker.
During the attempted burglary, both the elder Purnell and Walker were shot and killed. The younger Purnell reportedly fled the scene, but he left behind personal items that connected him to the crime. In October 2024, police arrested Reginald M. Purnell and charged him with double murder in the deaths of his father and Darrell Walker.
Ultimately, Reginald M. Purnell pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting deaths of his father and Darrell Walker. He was sentenced to serve between 9 and 12 years in prison for his role in the killings. With his conviction and sentencing, the case is considered solved.
