On January 24, 2023, Columbus police discovered the body of 44-year-old Hajid Jordan in the trunk of a Tesla Model 3 parked in the 600 block of Hilliard-Rome Road. Jordan, reported missing from Howard County, Maryland, had sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
Investigations revealed that on January 13, Jordan was at the East North Broadway residence of 44-year-old William Robertson in North Linden, Columbus, along with 24-year-old Tajuan Antonio Smith.
An argument ensued, during which Robertson and Smith allegedly shot and killed Jordan. They then transported his body in the rented Tesla, abandoning it on Volney Avenue.
Authorities charged both Robertson and Smith with murder. Robertson was arrested and held in the Franklin County Jail, while Smith remained at large. The Columbus Division of Police released surveillance footage showing two individuals leaving the Tesla on January 14, seeking public assistance in identifying them.
By August 2023, Smith was apprehended and faced a $3 million bond. The case underscores the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and the community in seeking justice for Jordan's family.
