On Monday, March 9, 2026, a Columbus man at the center of a high-profile Krumm Park shooting case stood in court and took a plea that could put him behind bars for life. Twenty-year-old Tyrez Turner admitted to a slate of serious charges tied to the June 3, 2024 gunfire that tore through a candlelight vigil and left two men dead. Even as he entered the plea, Turner told the judge he maintains his innocence, a legal tightrope that sets the stage for a likely life sentence, according to prosecutors.
Guilty plea, charges and possible sentence
Turner pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, murder, tampering with evidence, possession of a dangerous ordnance, having a weapon as a previously convicted felon and obstructing official business, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Prosecutors told the court the counts are tied directly to the Krumm Park vigil shooting that claimed two lives and shook the neighborhood. The Dispatch noted that although Turner has repeatedly said he is innocent, he accepted the plea that now sends the case to a sentencing hearing.
Night of the vigil and the victims
The violence erupted on June 3, 2024 during a candlelight vigil for 18-year-old Da’Mya Cummerlander when gunfire shattered the gathering and two men were hit, later dying from their injuries, as reported by AOL. Family and funeral notices identified the men as 29-year-old Lonnie Johnston and Jakwaun M. Kimbro, with arrangements published online by Legacy. Dozens of frantic 911 calls and released surveillance images captured what authorities described as a chaotic, panicked scene as neighbors and bystanders tried to help and provide clues to investigators.
Arrests and a sprawling investigation
Turner was arrested in June 2024 and charged in connection with the Krumm Park killings, and another person, Ladavia Fortner, was also taken into custody on related murder charges, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Detectives publicly urged anyone with video from the night of the vigil to turn it over as they tried to sort out conflicting witness accounts, including disputes over how many shots were fired and whether the gunfire came from a passing vehicle or people inside the park. The Dispatch reported investigators fielded roughly 19 separate 911 calls tied to the shooting.
Legal backdrop and what happens next
Under Ohio law, aggravated murder is a capital offense that can be punished by death or by life imprisonment, with the state sentencing code guiding how judges weigh those options, according to the Ohio Revised Code. With Turner’s guilty plea on the record, the case now shifts to Franklin County Common Pleas Court for a sentencing hearing where prosecutors and defense attorneys will argue over what term the law allows. The plea effectively resolves the criminal prosecution phase, even as it leaves the neighborhood grappling with ongoing questions about safety at public gatherings and the broader toll of gun violence.
Families, neighbors and an open wound
Family members and neighbors have said they feel some relief that the case is finally moving toward a conclusion, while still living with the daily reality of their loss, according to local reporting. In the days after the shooting, relatives and community members posted online memorials and urged anyone with footage or information to share it with police, messages that authorities have echoed as they continue to seek any remaining video. Investigators are still asking anyone with relevant footage to contact the Columbus Division of Police Homicide Unit.
