Dameire Thornton, a 19-year-old Black male, was fatally shot on February 23, 2022, in the Hilltop section of west Columbus, Ohio, in the 300 block of Whitethorne Avenue. Officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert just after 10:50 p.m. and found Thornton with a gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:08 p.m.

Police identified 21-year-old Josiah Herring as the suspect after witnesses provided information. Court records say Herring admitted to shooting Thornton multiple times as Thornton was walking away. Herring had prior arrest paperwork for weapon under disability, and a search warrant on his phone produced images of him posing with multiple firearms. Herring was taken into custody on August 24, 2022, and held on $1 million bond; a preliminary hearing is scheduled and the investigation is ongoing.

Thornton was remembered by family and friends as a vibrant, creative young man who loved music. If anyone in the Hilltop area that night saw or heard anything that could help investigators, please come forward with tips.