COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two men have been arrested and charged with murder after a shooting inside a University District home Saturday evening.
The Columbus Division of Police said Brian Richardson, 59, and Derek Miller, 42, have been charged following the death of 54-year-old Jerry Harper Jr.
Richardson is also charged with tampering with evidence and weapons under disability.
Miller was also shot and is in custody while being treated for his injuries.
Officers were called to a residence in the 400 block of East 13th Avenue, near the Ohio State Fairgrounds, the night of May 4 for a reported shooting. They found Miller who was shot several times.
Police found Harper nearby in the 400 block of East 14th Avenue suffering from gunshot wounds.
Harper was taken to Grant Medical Center and pronounced dead at 1:55 a.m. Miller was taken to Grant Medical Center in critical condition. His current condition is unknown at this time.
According to court documents, Richardson stated that Miller arrived at his apartment that night with a gun and tried to rob Harper. During the encounter, gunfire was exchanged between Miller and Harper.
Records state that Richardson initially denied knowing Miller was coming to his home, but texts were recovered between the two men from just minutes before Harper arrived. Richardson acknowledged that he knew Harper was likely coming to his home with a large sum of money to buy drugs.
Richardson appeared in court Wednesday and is being held on a $500,000 bond. He is scheduled to be back in court on May 17.