COLUMBUS – Columbus police are investigating a pair of shooting incidents within minutes each other that left two people dead early Saturday.
At 1:31 a.m., officers dispatched to the 1400 block of Bairstow Court on the Far West Side on a report of a shooting found Austin Roberts, who was suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body, Sgt. Dave Harrington of the Homicide Unit said.
Robert, 22, was taken to an area hospital in critical condition where he underwent surgery but died just after 11:00 a.m.
At 1:58 AM, officers responding to a reported shooting in the 1200 block of E. 25th Avenue in South Linden found a woman suffering from gunshot wounds, Sgt. Michael Smith said.
Columbus Division of Fire paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
UPDATE 7/10/23 6:56 a.m.: The victim has been identified as Flo Wilkes, 64, Smith said.
The investigation continues.
UPDATE 7/11/23 9:10 a.m.: This article has been edited to include the following incident.
Man’s body found at fire scene
Police have identified a 42-year-old man whose body was found at the scene of a suspicious fire on the South Side early Saturday, but his name is being withheld until his family is informed, according to Sgt. James Marable of the Homicide Unit.
Officers dispatched to the 1600 block of S. High Street on a report of a suspicious fire at approximately 1:31 a.m. found the body in a wooded area.
Columbus Division of Fire personnel pronounced the man deceased at scene and homicide detectives were called in to investigate, Marable said.
Police have not released a cause of death.
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact Columbus police or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).