On March 1, 2023, at approximately 2:19 a.m., Columbus police responded to a reported shooting in the 6100 block of Cleveland Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered three individuals with gunshot wounds. Two victims, identified as 41-year-olds Cornet H. Powell and Dawn E. Dunn, were pronounced dead at the scene. A third victim, a 48-year-old man, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition but was expected to survive.
Officers apprehended 37-year-old Jonathan Pigram at the scene. Witnesses identified Pigram as the shooter, and he was found hiding behind a vehicle with a handgun. Subsequent investigations revealed that Pigram had been released from jail on bond just a week prior to the incident and was wearing an ankle monitor at the time of the shooting.
Pigram faced multiple charges, including two counts of murder and one count of felonious assault. In October 2024, he pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 52 years. Authorities confirmed that Pigram did not know any of the victims, and the motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
Cornet H. Powell, affectionately known as "Corey," was born on April 20, 1981, in Houston, Texas. He later moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he graduated from Bishop Hartley High School in 1999. Corey pursued culinary arts and served as an Executive Chef at the Scioto Country Club. He is survived by his daughter, Aiyyana Jade Powell, and his son, Cornet Ha’mad Powell, Jr. His untimely death was a profound loss to his family and the community.
