The conclusion of a grim chapter unfolded with the arrest of a third teen in connection with the shooting death of 19-year-old Richard Murphy in West Columbus’ Franklinton area. The teen, aged 17, was taken into custody by Columbus police and is the last of three suspects, including 18-year-old Joseph Johnson and another 14-year-old youth, charged in the May 12 incident. According to FOX28, the 17-year-old was booked into the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Facility.
The sequence of events on South Princeton Avenue led to a confrontation where witnesses claim to have seen three males get out of a car and to confront Murphy, before opening fire, as reported by ABC6. Responding officers found Murphy shot and unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead at Grant Medical Center. The case, tied back to an argument, piles onto the tally of violent incidents plaguing the area.
All suspects are now facing charges, with Johnson's bond set at $1 million after being arraigned, as detailed by WBNS. The Franklin County Municipal Court records revealed witnesses observing suspects with firearms arriving at the crime scene and later engaging with the victim before the fatal shots were fired. The arrest of the 17-year-old marks a critical step for authorities as they continue to investigate the circumstances around Murphy's death.
