Ceilin Ricard Peaks Smith was a 36-year-old Black man known for his warm and friendly nature. A father of two, he was described by loved ones as someone who was always smiling and who everyone loved. Friends affectionately called him "2 smitty."
On June 14, 2024, Ceilin was at his job as a security guard at the Aura nightclub, located at 205 N. 5th St. in downtown Columbus, Ohio. At approximately 1:45 a.m., an argument that started outside the club escalated into gunfire.
In the ensuing violence, four people were shot. Ceilin and his fellow security guard, 27-year-old Desmond Taylor, were both fatally wounded. Ceilin was transported to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Two other people were also injured but were expected to survive.
The Columbus police began an investigation that quickly centered on a single suspect. On June 24, authorities issued an arrest warrant for 26-year-old Jaquez Hoover, charging him with two counts of murder for the deaths of Ceilin and Desmond Taylor. Hoover evaded capture for more than two months, prompting a city-wide manhunt. The search concluded on August 29, 2024, when U.S. Marshals received a tip that led them to a home on Glengate Drive. They arrested Hoover inside the residence without incident.
Jaquez Hoover appeared in court the following day, August 30, where a judge set his bond at $5,000,085. The case advanced on September 6, 2024, when a grand jury returned an indictment against Hoover on multiple counts of murder. Following the shooting, the Columbus City Attorney also cited the incident as part of a long history of violence at the nightclub and began legal action to have the establishment permanently closed. As of September 2024, the criminal case against Hoover was proceeding through the courts.
