Madan Thapa, a 32-year-old man from Columbus, Ohio, was fatally shot on July 12, 2023. The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on Beechcroft Road, where police responded to reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found Thapa suffering from a gunshot wound. He was quickly transported to OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after, being pronounced dead at 2:58 a.m.
Investigations led to the arrest of Lok Acharya, a 25-year-old man who was identified as the shooter. According to police reports, Acharya had taken a handgun from the Beechcroft Newstand without informing the employees. While Thapa was driving with Acharya in the vehicle, Acharya began handling the firearm, which accidentally discharged and struck Thapa in the torso. This tragic incident caused Thapa to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in a crash at the intersection of Beechcroft Road and Forest Village Lane.
Acharya has been charged with reckless homicide and is currently held in the Franklin County jail. He is expected to appear in court following his arrest. Authorities have urged anyone with additional information regarding the incident to contact the Columbus police detectives.
