A weekend shooting in Ohio claimed three lives and left three others injured in what officials described as a “chaotic” scene.
The tragedy unfolded in Italian Village, a neighborhood just north of Columbus. The victims who lost their lives were identified as 18-year-old Da’ondre Bullock, 26-year-old Garcia Dixon Jr., and 27-year-old Malachi Pee, according to The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The three injured individuals were taken to nearby hospitals, and authorities expect them to survive their injuries. USA TODAY has reached out to the Columbus Division of Police for further details.
Police Respond to Reports of Automatic Gunfire
Columbus police were dispatched around 2:45 a.m. Saturday to the area of East Fifth Avenue between North High Street and North Fourth Street, near Weinland Park and Italian Village, following reports of gunfire.
Deputy Chief Gregory Bodker said callers reported automatic gunfire and vehicles speeding away from the scene. Upon arrival, officers encountered a “very chaotic scene,” he stated.
The shooting occurred outside a business, though it remains unclear if the individuals involved were patrons. By Saturday afternoon, police had not identified any suspects, according to a press release.
While the motive behind the shooting is unknown, several witnesses are cooperating with investigators. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the case, utilizing a drone to document the extensive crime scene, Bodker said.
Residents Share Their Accounts
Craig Wheeler, a 62-year-old bartender living near the area, recalled hearing a single gunshot followed by screams. After a brief pause of five to ten seconds, about nine more shots rang out in quick succession, followed by what sounded like an automatic weapon firing.
Wheeler shared his concerns about late-night safety in his neighborhood, saying, “Nobody settles anything with fists anymore. It’s always, ‘We’re going to drag race at 1 at the corner or I’m going to shoot you.'”
Another witness, Daquian Williams, described the pandemonium to WBNS.
“There were over 150, 200 people running for their lives, bullets spraying everywhere. It was chaotic,” he said. “Bodies on the floor, blood, blood-curdling screams, people trampling over each other. The chaos was so wild it was uncontrollable.”