On April 10, 2023, at approximately 3:45 a.m., Columbus police responded to a reported shooting in the 200 block of South Eureka Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered 22-year-old Joshua Farmer unresponsive with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene. A 47-year-old woman, identified as Farmer's mother, was also found with multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Grant Medical Center in stable condition.
Authorities arrested 57-year-old Alfred Davis Jr. at the scene. He was charged with murder and felonious assault in connection with the incident. Initial investigations suggest that a domestic dispute led to the shooting. Court records indicate that Davis's wife reported he had been "kicking and beating her" before the shooting occurred. After the incident, Davis allegedly went to a neighbor's home with the handgun used in the shooting and claimed to have shot his oldest son. During police interviews, Davis denied assaulting his wife or stepson, asserting he acted in self-defense.
Subsequently, a Franklin County grand jury indicted Davis on multiple charges, including one count of aggravated murder, two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of felonious assault, and one count of weapons under disability. This case marked the eighth domestic violence-related homicide in Columbus for the year, surpassing the total of seven reported in 2022. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have urged anyone with information to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.
