COLUMBUS – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment that adds new charges against two central Ohio men allegedly involved in a two-week robbery spree that ended in the shooting of a Columbus police officer and the death of a third suspect in a freeway shootout.
The 10-count superseding indictment charges Faisal Darod, of Columbus, with aiding and abetting four other robberies in addition to the one at the Fifth Third bank in Hilliard on July 6 that led to a pursuit and the shooting, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker.
Darod is also charged with four counts of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during the robberies.
Aden Abdullahi Jama, 20, of Reynoldsburg, is charged with being an accessory after the fact to a July 5 holdup Darod allegedly carried out at a Fifth Third Bank branch on Fishinger Road in Upper Arlington, Parker said.
Jama is also facing two counts of aiding and abetting robberies and two counts of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during the robberies.
The indictment claims that Darod, 23, helped steal a 2016 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray from Auto Gallery on Westerville Road in Minerva Park on July 3, more than $75,000 from the Fifth Third in Upper Arlington, and multiple PlayStation gaming consoles.
Both men allegedly aided and abetted the theft of a 2020 Porsche Cayenne SUV from Byers Imports on July 6 and used the stolen vehicle to get to the Hilliard bank, where they are accused of stealing more than $85,000 the same day, Parker said.
Following the Hilliard robbery, Columbus police and other law enforcement officers encountered Darod and Jama on I-70 near downtown Columbus where an exchange of gunfire left a Columbus officer was severely injured and a third person in the car with Darod and Jama dead.
The United States Marshals’ Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team arrested Darod in the early morning hours of July 7 outside his Columbus residence.
U.S. Marshals and Homeland Security Investigation agents arrested Jama at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on July 8.
The two remain in custody.
Suspect in August murder arrested
An 18-year-old man wanted in connection with the August shooting death of a man on the Northeast Side but are still working to identify a potential second suspect in the incident, Sgt. David Harrington of the Columbus police Homicide Unit said.
Agents with the U.S. Marshals Service Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team arrested Charles Fleming on Wednesday.
He is facing murder charges in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Chrishon Fisher in the 2400 block of Marcia Drive, Harrington said.