On June 4, 2024, at approximately 10:39 p.m., Columbus police responded to a reported traffic crash in the 700 block of Sullivant Avenue in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. Upon arrival, officers found 21-year-old Caleb McKenzie injured and unresponsive inside a vehicle that had collided with a utility pole.
McKenzie was immediately transported to Grant Medical Center, where doctors discovered he had been shot.
Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at 11:03 p.m. on the same night. The incident, which initially appeared to be a car accident, was subsequently investigated as a homicide.
In the days following McKenzie's death, his parents, Amber and Kevin Irby, spoke to local media, describing their son as a "great kid" who "didn't bother nobody" and "loved his family." They expressed confusion about why someone would target their son, stating that he had never been in trouble.
On June 18, 2024, nearly two weeks after the incident, Columbus police made a significant breakthrough in the case. A 16-year-old boy was arrested without incident by the Columbus Police SWAT team and charged with murder in connection to McKenzie's death. The juvenile suspect was taken to the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center following his arrest.
Authorities have not released the name of the teenage suspect due to his minor status. As of the latest reports, police have not provided additional details regarding the circumstances of the shooting or the suspect's alleged role in the incident. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
The Columbus Division of Police continues to investigate the case. They have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Pribe, the Homicide Unit, or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.
