Columbus, Ohio: An early morning shooting in Ohio’s capital has left three people dead and three others wounded, authorities reported.
The incident occurred shortly before 3:00 AM EDT on Saturday in the Italian Village neighborhood north of downtown Columbus, according to Columbus police, who were quoted by the Associated Press (AP). The gunfire, possibly from semi-automatic or automatic weapons, led to a chaotic scene with cars speeding away.
Deputy Chief Gregory Bodker stated that officers arrived within two minutes to find six people shot. Two men were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third man died later at a hospital. The victims were identified as 27-year-old Malachi Pee, 26-year-old Garcia Dixon Jr., and 18-year-old Da’ondre Bullock.
Three other individuals were hospitalized. One was in critical condition, while the other two were stable, but all are expected to survive, Bodker said.
Police are speaking with several cooperative witnesses. A bar is located nearby, but it is unclear if anyone involved had been a patron.
No suspects have been identified, and the motive for the shooting remains unknown. It is also unclear how many people were involved. The Franklin County sheriff’s office deployed a drone to document the extensive crime scene, while police continue to collect evidence and video footage.