A gunman approached a juvenile on the 100 block of Fornof Road around 7:30 p.m. on August 9, displayed a handgun, and stole the teen's property before running off, according to Columbus police. Investigators are turning to the public for help identifying the suspect.
Columbus police say they are asking for the public's help identifying the man responsible, as reported by WSYX. The outlet reports the suspect fled the 100 block of Fornof Road after stealing the juvenile victim's belongings, and police have released an image showing the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Columbus Police Robbery Unit at 614-645-4665.
Aggravated Robbery Charge Looms If Suspect Is Caught
Aggravated Robbery Charge Looms If Suspect Is Caught
With no arrest made, detectives are also leaning on Central Ohio Crime Stoppers to solicit anonymous civilian leads. The organization accepts tips by phone, website, or through the P3 Tips app without recording calls or using caller ID, and it offers cash rewards when a tip leads to an arrest or felony indictment, per Central Ohio Crime Stoppers. Tipsters can reach the group anonymously at 614-461-TIPS (8477). The nonprofit is funded by private donations.
A South Side Corridor With a Troubled Recent History
Fornof Road, where it intersects South High Street, has seen other traumatic incidents in recent years. In January 2025, a fatal single-vehicle crash near South High Street killed an 18-year-old occupant after the car drifted into a snowbank and struck a pole, according to The Mirror US. Hoodline also previously reported on a critical hit-and-run crash at the intersection of South High Street and Fornof Road in October 2024 involving a cyclist.
This latest robbery also isn't an isolated incident this summer. Just weeks earlier, Hoodline covered a gunpoint robbery and police chase tied to a cash-flash video on Forest Street.
Progress on Violent Crime, but Persistent Staffing Gaps
The Fornof Road robbery comes even as Columbus has posted major gains against violent crime overall. The city had recorded 81 homicides as of December 17, 2025, and was likely to finish below 100 for the first time in about a decade, down sharply from a record peak of 205 in 2021, according to WOSU Public Media. In his 2025 State of the City address, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther cited city data showing homicides fell 17 percent and felonious assaults dropped 25 percent in 2024, alongside a 76 percent homicide solve rate.
Columbus has also pursued strategies aimed at reducing gun violence. Officials have credited targeted strategies, including a Non-Fatal Shooting Team that the Columbus Division of Police made permanent in November 2025 after an 18-month pilot in Patrol Zone 6.
Still, those gains haven't eliminated the need for community tips in cases like the Fornof Road robbery, underscoring how much identifying armed suspects still depends on residents willing to come forward.
