A reported overnight car theft in west Columbus ended with one suspect accidentally shooting himself in the leg, a friend rushing both men to the hospital, and police making two arrests on aggravated robbery charges. Officers were called to the 3600 block of West Broad Street at about 3:17 a.m. Sunday for a stolen vehicle, setting off a chain of events that left a 21-year-old nursing a gunshot wound before he'd even made it out of the car.
According to WSYX, Columbus police responded to the reported vehicle theft overnight in west Columbus, dispatching an officer to West Broad Street for the initial call. The victim told police that two suspects, identified as 21-year-old Scott Unger and 18-year-old Wayne Erwin, had stolen his vehicle.
Police said Unger and Erwin drove the stolen vehicle to the 300 block of South Chase Avenue, where they parked and got out. It was at that moment, authorities said, that Unger accidentally shot himself in the leg with a firearm he had in his possession while exiting the vehicle.
Suspects Fled Before Getting Medical Help
After the shooting, both suspects fled the scene, according to authorities. A friend ultimately took both men to a local hospital, where Unger was treated for his injury. The report does not detail Erwin's medical condition.
Despite fleeing, both Unger and Erwin were arrested in connection with the incident and are now facing aggravated robbery charges, the station's report states. Under Ohio law, aggravated robbery is classified as a felony of the first degree, according to the Ohio Revised Code.
Part of a Broader Spike in Columbus Car Thefts
This case lands amid a sharp rise in vehicle thefts across the city. More than 60 stolen cars were reported to the Columbus Division of Police since the start of 2025, an 88% jump compared to the 32 thefts logged in January and February of 2024, per The Lantern. Separately, 13 thefts were reported within a mile of Ohio State's campus in March, and CPD records showed 37 people had their cars stolen in December 2024.
One Columbus police officer told The Lantern that certain car models, specifically Kias and Hyundais, are simply easier to steal than others — a factor that has fueled theft numbers in cities nationwide. Residents looking to check on a stolen vehicle report or view local crime data can use online tools provided by the City of Columbus.
It remains unclear what led Unger to be carrying a firearm during the alleged theft or what specifically prompted the aggravated robbery charges beyond the vehicle theft itself. Neither suspect's court status has been detailed beyond the arrests reported Sunday.
