Courtney Nicole Boog, also known as Courtney Bruce or Boog The Bandit, was a 26-year-old aspiring rapper from Columbus, Ohio who was shot and killed on May 20, 2021. She had been lured to a meeting on the city’s East Side and was sitting in a car with a 25-year-old man when a group of men with handguns approached intending to rob them. Courtney resisted; during the struggle she was pistol-whipped and shot. The man with her drove her to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Columbus homicide detectives arrested 22-year-old Kyson Murphy of Reynoldsburg and charged him with murder and felony aggravated robbery; investigators say he arranged the meeting under the pretense of a drug deal or a rap video production. Two other men involved were identified as Sincere McIntyre and Jumada Williams. McIntyre, 17 at the time, is reported to have fired the shot that killed Courtney; Williams took part in the robbery. All three later pleaded guilty and received prison terms.

Courtney had been gaining recognition for singles such as Heart Away, Hot Topic, and Risky. Her mother, Wanda Bruce, spoke in court about her grief and desire for justice. If anyone knew Courtney, witnessed the events that day, or has information about what happened, please share what is known.