Latest news with #Thomas-St.Clair
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
Boy, 17, identified as victim of fatal east Columbus party shooting
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus police identified the teenager that was killed in a shooting at a Fourth of July party at an east side short-term rental house. Columbus police said that officers were called to the 800 block of Wilson Avenue in the Southern Orchards area at 2:41 a.m. Friday. An altercation occurred during a 'pop-up' party at the residence which led to multiple shots being fired and six people sustaining injuries. Three were taken to local hospitals by medics and one of those victims, identified as 17-year-old Cameron Moore, died at the hospital. The three other victims who were shot walked into a hospital for treatment. Of the six victims of the shooting, two were juveniles and four were adults. Two injured after motorcycle crashes into dollhouse near New Albany 'July 4 will never be the same, number 41, will never be the same,' Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children founder Malissa Thomas-St. Clair said. 'Why? Because he's the 41st homicide of Columbus, Ohio. These numbers start to be the story in the fabric of the ending of a soul.' She knows first-hand the pain of losing a child to gun violence, and she wants Moore's family to know that they aren't alone. 'You are so supportive, and we're praying for you,' Thomas-St. Clair said. 'The community is going to wrap their arms around you and try their best to get help, for your justice. There will be a time, there will be a time when life gets a little different. I don't want to say better, but a little different, where two steps can be in front of you and just continue to be at the peace that Cameron is going to be with Him forever.' At the house where the shooting happened, police tape and articles of clothing remain. City leaders, including Mayor Andrew Ginther and Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin, took to social media in the hours after the shooting. New route debuts at Columbus Zoo's second Run Wild 5K Hardin said, in part, 'This kind of violence never has a place in our city, yet it keeps happening.' 'While violence in our city is at its lowest level in more than a decade, incidents like this are a stark reminder that we must stay vigilant in preventing harm to our youth and neighbors,' Ginther said in his statement. 'We are very optimistic with the work that's being done, but we know we can't stop, you know, sustainability is really important, and yes, under triple digits is where we want to be again,' Thomas-St. Clair said. The Southern Orchards Civic Association, a group in the neighborhood where the shooting happened, also took to social media, calling for unity in their community. In a Sunday statement, police said that the party had more than 100 people and that most of them were teenagers. CPD is asking for public assistance in continuing to investigate this shooting. Anyone with video can submit it to detectives by scanning the QR code below. You can also submit tips to CPD's homicide unit at 614-645-4730 or contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477 to remain anonymous. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbus leaders honing in on mission to lower homicide rate below 100
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Columbus community and police leaders say they are honing in on their mission to lower the city's homicide rate. The organization, Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children, and the Columbus Division of Police have spent some time restructuring their mission, Operation Under Triple Digits. It's an initiative aimed at getting the city's homicide rate below 100. Leaders say this year they will focus on what they are calling the big three: domestic relationships, youth violence and arguments turned violent. 'We're in a pressure cooker right now. It is a very sensitive time,' said Malissa Thomas-St. Clair, the founder of Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children. Ohio Senate's actions called 'undemocratic' after passing higher ed bill Leaders say this is a big city and a big job. Columbus Police data shows in 2024, the city's homicide rate dropped by 17 percent. But in 2025 and beyond, city and community leaders say they want to see that rate drop even more. 'We want to ensure that the community continues the good work. We don't want to go backwards,' Thomas-St. Clair said. Columbus Police First Assistant Chief LaShanna Potts said the division will be taking on an even bigger role in the initiative to support community groups in any way they need. 'We are about saving this community when we leave these positions that we hold because we always say we're seat fillers, right? And we want to make sure that the person coming behind us doesn't have to start from scratch,' Potts said. Thomas-St. Clair said they chose their big three by looking at police data from 2024. She said those were the areas that needed the most attention. 'If you look at the domestic violence homicides that happened, there were 23 out of 123 homicides, domestic violence is the silent killer,' Thomas-St. Clair said. Lawmaker introduces 'boneless wing bill' after viral Ohio Supreme Court court ruling Potts said they will also be partnering with other community groups like We Are Linden, Ohio Women Against Domestic Violence, Legacy U and more. All of the groups they are working with specialize and focus on those big three. 'We believe that this is the one year out of a three-year plan and by the third year, we will be under triple digits. That is our goal. That is our vision,' Potts said. They say every move this year will be intentional. They plan to meet with community groups and stakeholders aimed at tackling those big three monthly to go over data. Thomas-St. Clair said they are starting a new initiative called 'mall walks' to engage people who aren't naturally affected by violence. She said they are also going to places that are. 'So we're going inside of prisons together, she and I, along with some of my team members and hers. That is a unique partnership we just began. So we're excited for the reentry,' Thomas-St. Clair said. Ohio State club displaying art exhibit for Black History Month The women say they are going to use the data and what they've learned over the last few years to prevent instead of react. 'They're bridging the gap, we're building the trust and within those big three, all that needs to happen is have the community trust our law enforcement. Law enforcement trusts us and then we work together,' Thomas-St. Clair said. According to police data, there have been six homicides in the City of Columbus so far this year. If you would like to get involved in Operation Under Triple Digits they have ways to sign up and take their pledge on their website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
