Two Columbus men were sentenced Thursday for their roles in a May 4, 2024 robbery that turned into a deadly shooting in the University District. The late night meeting, arranged as a drug transaction near Ohio State University, ended with one man dead and the other critically wounded. The victim, Jerry T. Harper Jr., was found with gunshot wounds near an apartment close to campus and later died.
Sentences and court action
Franklin County Judge Kim Brown sentenced Derek Miller to 28 to 33.5 years in prison after a jury convicted him of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery, both with firearm specifications, and ordered that he serve the full term. Brian Richardson received a sentence of 10 to 13 years that included a three year firearm specification plus additional time tied to unrelated drug convictions, according to WSYX.
Police timeline and what investigators say
Columbus police say officers were called shortly after 8:30 p.m. on May 4, 2024, to the 400 block of East 13th Avenue, where they found one man with apparent gunshot wounds. A second victim was located nearby on the 400 block of East 14th Avenue. Investigators report the suspects allegedly lured the victim to an apartment under the pretense of a drug sale, and that a struggle inside the unit led to both men being shot. The second man later died at the hospital. Those investigative details were outlined in a homicide update from the Columbus Division of Police.
From arrest to sentence
Detectives arrested the two men on May 8, 2024, and initial charges included murder before they were ultimately convicted on lesser counts tied to the killing, local coverage says. Prosecutors Steven Schott and Carol Harmon handled the cases for the state, and the court proceedings concluded this week with the sentences imposed. The station's report cited the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office for the sentencing information.
What it leaves behind
The sentences close a painful chapter for Harper's family and for neighbors who say the University District has been wrestling with late night safety concerns around off campus housing. Prosecutors and police have urged anyone with information about the case to continue to come forward while the court's decision takes effect. For the community, the rulings stand as a stark reminder of the risks tied to meeting strangers for illicit transactions near heavily populated campus corridors.
