COLUMBUS, Ohio — Two more people were shot and killed in Columbus on Tuesday, which puts the number of homicides at 116.
Many of the victims and suspects are juveniles. The victim in one of the latest cases was just 15.
Columbus police said officers were called to the 4800 block of Heatherton Drive just after 3 p.m. on a report of a shooting, feet from an elementary school playground.
Because the school is in virtual mode, no students were there at the time.
Neighbors say 15-year-old Dawaun Taylor was standing on the side of the road. A car pulled up to him and someone inside the car shot at the teen.
He was taken to Grant Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 3:53 p.m.
“Dawuan Taylor is a victim and was 15 years old. Fifteen not even old enough to drive a car yet. He will never be able to experience that,” Columbus Police Sergeant James Fuqua said. “The pain that is left behind that his family will have to suffer through for the rest of their life is immeasurable.”
Taylor had been reported missing from Maryhaven earlier this month.
Columbus police say his homicide is part of a growing trend of homicide victims and suspects under the age of 18.
“I can't say enough how much it troubles me how many young people we have lost to gun violence or have been involved as a suspect,” Fuqua explained.
According to police, 18 of the homicide victims this year were 17 and under, with another 23 that were 18 to 21.
Columbus police say many of the suspects have also been teens. Eleven have been 17 and under, with another 14 suspects ages 18 to 21.
“We can't police our way out of this problem, we need the community's help,” Fuqua said.
Out of the 116 homicides this year, 101 were killed in a shooting.
In Taylor’s shooting, police are still searching for a suspect but added information is vague.
Police said immediately after the shooting, a silver Chrysler 300 left the scene and was seen driving east on Trent Road.
Anyone with information is asked to call Columbus police at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.