Lee Mardis Jr., a 24-year-old Black man from Columbus, Ohio, was fatally shot on February 5, 2022, after acting as a shield to protect his pregnant girlfriend on Gilbert Street. Officers were dispatched about 8:05 PM to the 700 block of Gilbert Street after a report of a shooting. Columbus Fire Medic #1 transported him in critical condition to Grant Medical Center, where he died at 9:00 PM that evening.

No arrests have been announced and the investigation remains ongoing. The family has been vocal in seeking justice and expressed frustration over the lack of progress identifying and apprehending suspects. They are focused on keeping his memory alive and finding closure so his daughter can grow up knowing her father. If anyone has information about what happened on Gilbert Street that night, please come forward.