Five years after 17-year-old Makenzi Ridley was shot and killed outside the Far East Recreation Center, Columbus is still living with an open wound. Ridley was hit during an exchange of gunfire at a gathering that police say started as a squirt-gun fight on June 24, 2021. No arrests have followed. Her mother plans to spend the fifth anniversary at home with family, waiting for news that still has not come.
Investigation At A Standstill
Columbus police Sgt. James Fuqua told WSYX the case "is at a standstill" and said detectives revisit the file whenever new information surfaces. According to Fuqua, investigators "have a fairly good idea" who was involved but still need people in the community to step up before leads can turn into criminal charges. Ridley's mother, Seneca Ridley, told the station she has not received recent updates and finds the lack of movement deeply painful.
Official Timeline And Scene
According to official records, officers were dispatched to the Far East Recreation Center at 1826 Lattimer Dr. at about 8:44 p.m. on June 24, 2021. Ridley was taken to Mount Carmel East and pronounced dead a short time later, the City of Columbus homicide archive states. The archive notes that dozens of people were there that night and that many witnesses ran from the scene after shots were fired, making the investigation significantly harder.
Family Keeps Her Memory Alive
Ridley's family has tried to turn grief into something living. They created a foundation, awarded scholarships, and opened a food truck, a business they say Makenzi had hoped to run with her mother, the family told WSYX. They say each project is designed to keep her name present while they continue to push for answers in her killing.
Witnesses, Tips And How To Help
Police released surveillance video of individuals they believe were involved shortly after the shooting. Even so, detectives say they are still waiting for someone with concrete, usable information to come forward. Anyone with tips is asked to contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477 or reach out to the Columbus Division of Police. Crime Stoppers also accepts anonymous submissions online and through its app.
City Response After The Killing
Ridley's killing prompted city leaders to roll out promises for a new security plan at neighborhood recreation centers, pools, and parks that included reallocating police resources and bringing in private security guards. That response was detailed in coverage summarized by Athletic Business. City Council also approved emergency funding for additional guards at public pools while officials debated how to handle safety over the long term.
As the fifth anniversary arrives, Ridley's family says it will keep pressing for justice while detectives wait for the tip that could finally break the case. The unsolved killing remains a stark reminder of how quickly a community gathering can turn deadly and how heavily homicide investigations depend on witnesses who are willing to talk.
