A weekend afternoon near Walden Park in northeast Columbus took a grim turn Saturday when a juvenile was shot and rushed to a local children’s hospital, while detectives and patrol officers fanned out through the surrounding Forest Park East neighborhood searching for answers. Neighbors described the area filling quickly with police cruisers and emergency vehicles as officers moved from house to house looking for witnesses. City officials have not released the victim’s condition or said anything publicly about possible suspects.
According to NBC4 WCMH‑TV, Columbus police dispatchers said officers responded to reports of a shooting at Walden Park and confirmed that a juvenile was transported to a nearby children’s hospital. Dispatchers told the station they would not provide details on the victim’s condition or any suspect information. Detectives were seen combing the park and nearby streets Saturday while crime scene crews documented and processed the area.
Police Response And Park Details
Walden Park is listed by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department as a 5.146‑acre neighborhood park in the Northland community, with athletic fields and a playground, per Columbus Recreation and Parks. On Saturday, the usual kids-and-soccer vibe gave way to a more locked‑down scene. Officers kept a visible presence in and around the park while detectives canvassed for witnesses and asked residents and businesses for any phone or doorbell video that might help them piece together what happened. As of the latest update, officials have not announced any arrests in connection with the shooting.
Where This Fits In Recent Incidents
This is not the first time gunfire has rattled a Columbus park this year. Earlier incidents include a late night gunfire episode in Weinland Park and a reported shooting near Strawberry Farms Park that also sent a victim to the hospital. Both incidents led to increased patrols and additional canvassing by officers looking for witnesses and video.
Columbus police have asked anyone with information or video related to the Walden Park shooting to contact investigators, as reported by NBC4 WCMH‑TV. The City of Columbus lists the Division of Police non‑emergency line at (614) 645‑4545 for tips and public inquiries, according to the Columbus Division of Police public information page. The case remains under investigation, and authorities have said they will update the public as new information becomes available.
