Kobe Elliott Bryant, a 22-year-old man from Lima, Ohio, was found in the yard of a residence at 643 E. Fourth St. on December 29, 2022, suffering from gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene. His death was recorded as Lima’s fourth homicide of 2022.

Investigators initially had no identified suspect. The case record notes Kobe had been one of two teenagers charged in a previous shooting on May 14, 2017, in the 300 block of North Collett Street. Later filings show a Lima resident named Takal Austin was arrested in January 2023 in connection with Kobe’s death; Austin was indicted on aggravated murder and murder with a gang specification, but those charges were dismissed and Austin ultimately pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence, receiving a minimum 17-year sentence and ordered to pay $7,000 in restitution for funeral expenses.

Kobe’s family described him as talented with the violin, a writer of rhymes and a basketball fan, and said his sense of humor and presence are missed. Does anyone have information about Kobe that could help fill gaps in the timeline or shed light on his last hours?