A window punch tool, its handle bearing the DNA of a 19-year-old, sits at the center of a five-month murder investigation in Columbus. That tool, police say, was used to break into a car before a deadly shooting that left one man dead and another woman wounded. Now, a second suspect, a 17-year-old boy, has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the May 20th killing of 22-year-old Samir Mayes, NBC4i reported.
The case began in the early morning hours of May 20 when officers were called to the 4100 block of Migration Lane. There, they found Mayes with serious injuries from a gunshot wound and a woman with a minor injury to her arm. Mayes was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead just before 5 a.m.
The Night of the Shooting
According to investigators, the incident unfolded as multiple suspects were attempting to steal a vehicle parked outside a home. When two victims emerged onto a second-floor balcony to observe the alleged crime, a suspect began shooting. That suspect, police have since identified as Amari Cross, 19, who was arrested and charged with murder on Oct. 26.
Video surveillance helped investigators understand the events. Footage showed Cross leaving the scene in a Toyota RAV4, which police confirmed had been stolen earlier that evening. Detectives also reviewed video of four people walking along Brooks Avenue after abandoning the RAV4 and matched cellphone tower locations to Cross at the scene on Migration Lane, as well as at locations on Lachlan Landings Drive and Brooks Avenue.
A Second Suspect Apprehended
Following Cross’s arrest, the investigation continued, leading to the identification of a second suspect. On Thursday, a 17-year-old boy was interviewed at Columbus Division of Police headquarters before being taken to the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center. He has been charged with murder, possessing a dangerous ordinance, and improperly handling a firearm in a moving vehicle.
The window punch tool, a key piece of evidence, was reportedly used to break into the vehicle on Migration Lane and was found to contain DNA from Cross. This physical evidence, combined with the video and cell tower data, formed the basis for the charges against both suspects.
Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office described the case as highlighting the dangerous escalation that can occur when a theft is interrupted.
According to data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program, incidents involving stolen vehicles can sometimes escalate to more serious offenses, particularly when the theft is interrupted.
The legal proceedings for the 17-year-old will be handled in the juvenile justice system, a separate and often less public process than adult court. For Amari Cross, the case will proceed through the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, where he faces the possibility of a life sentence if convicted of murder.
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