A suspect has been apprehended in Columbus in connection with a fatal shooting that transpired at a La Quinta Inn hotel in Springdale. The incident, which occurred yesterday morning, shook the local community as hotel employee Umedjon R. Mavlonkulov, 27, was found dead at his workplace.
De'Sean McKinley Buckner, 28, was arrested by the Columbus Police Department following a collaborative effort with Springdale police, who had tracked the suspect to the area. According to FOX19, Buckner was located on the 500 block of Broad Road at around 9:10 p.m. and was taken into custody without incident. He is now being held at the Franklin County Justice Center, with extradition to Hamilton County pending.
Authorities arrived at the scene of the crime after reports of a shooting at the hotel surfaced, finding Mavlonkulov deceased behind the front counter. The motives behind the fatal confrontation remain unclear, though court documents cited by LOCAL12 News suggest that Buckner had been a guest at the hotel. After a brief exchange with Mavlonkulov, he allegedly unleashed several rounds at the latter, who succumbed to his injuries on the spot.
Following the shooting, the alleged perpetrator fled the premises, driving away in a 2024 Mazda CX-30. The vehicle's last known direction was eastbound on Crescentville Road, as per information obtained by WLWT. The Springdale Police Department continues its investigation and encourages anyone with information to step forward.
Springdale police underscored the importance of interagency cooperation, which played a pivotal role in Buckner's capture. They expressed gratitude for the Columbus Police Department's swift action in apprehending the suspect. The Springdale community is now beginning to process the tragic loss of Mavlonkulov, a beloved employee at La Quinta Inn, and awaits further details as the investigation unfolds.
