On July 14, 2023, 18-year-old Tay Green of Westerville, Ohio, attended a pool party at the Lake Forest Apartments near Sunbury Road in northeast Columbus. The gathering, described as an impromptu event attended by approximately 100 teenagers, turned tragic when Green was shot multiple times. He was transported to Mount Carmel East Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries early the following morning.
In the aftermath, Columbus police arrested two teenagers in connection with Green's death: 16-year-old Andrez Kelley and 15-year-old D'Angelo Harris. Both were charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery. During court proceedings, Harris's attorney suggested the possibility of a self-defense claim, asserting that Harris did not shoot Green. The prosecution, however, indicated that Green suffered three gunshot wounds to the chest during an alleged robbery. As the legal process unfolded, discussions emerged about whether Kelley and Harris should be tried as adults, given the severity of the charges.
Green, a student at Westerville South High School, was preparing for his senior year and was enrolled in automotive collision repair classes at the Delaware Area Career Center. He aspired to move to Florida to open a body shop and dreamed of starting a family. In the days following his death, family and friends gathered at a vigil to honor his memory, lighting candles and sharing stories of his respectful nature and ambitions. His parents called for justice, emphasizing the profound impact of his loss on their lives and the community.
