On February 19, 2024, at approximately 1:45 p.m., Columbus police officers responded to a reported shooting in the 2800 block of Drew Heights Place. Upon arrival, they found 21-year-old Jahaad T. Hughes unresponsive on the ground. Despite immediate medical attention and transport to Mount Carmel East Hospital, Hughes was pronounced dead at 3:03 p.m.
The incident stemmed from a domestic dispute between Hughes and his mother, 44-year-old Laquandra Williams.
Witnesses reported that Williams initially attempted to stab her son with a knife, which he managed to take from her. She then retrieved a firearm from her vehicle and, as Hughes was leaving the residence with his belongings, shot him at close range. Williams approached the arriving officers and admitted to shooting her son. She was taken into custody without incident and charged with murder.
On August 5, 2024, Williams accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to the charges. She was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 18 years. During the sentencing, Hughes' father, Jaydee Hughes, described his son's death as the culmination of years of systemic abuse. The tragic event highlighted underlying issues within the family, including concerns about mental health.
