Ronald Diggs, a 38-year-old Black man from Atlanta, was a beloved entertainer known for his passion for dancing and his ability to bring joy to others. A native of Newark, New Jersey, he performed under the name King Ry’Yon Shugahbear Tajoure and had won multiple LGBTQ+ pageant titles. A friend described him as "friend and family to many." In late April 2024, Diggs traveled to Columbus, Ohio, to perform at a show and judge an event in the city’s arts district.
In the early hours of
April 29, 2024, a large brawl involving 15 to 20 people broke out inside a Waffle House on North High Street near the Ohio State University campus. The fight, which started around 2:30 a.m., escalated with people throwing chairs before spilling out onto the street. According to a friend, another friend of Diggs was assaulted during the chaos, and Diggs was shot while trying to protect him. Police found Diggs on the sidewalk about half a block from the restaurant with a gunshot wound to his chest. He was rushed to a hospital in critical condition and pronounced dead at 3:06 a.m. Two other people were also injured during the fight.
Columbus police investigators quickly identified 19-year-old Jaquan Curry as the suspect in the shooting and issued a warrant for his arrest on a murder charge. Authorities also released images of three other persons of interest they were seeking to identify in connection with the homicide. For months, Curry remained at large.
On September 5, 2024, the Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team, led by U.S. Marshals, arrested Jaquan Curry in Canal Winchester. During his first court appearance the next day, Curry apologized to Ronald Diggs’s family for his actions. A judge set his bond at $1 million.
In August 2025, Jaquan Curry pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence for his role in the death of Ronald Diggs. He was sentenced to serve 23 to 28 years in prison.
