Esak Tilahun Gemeraw, a 21-year-old of Ethiopian ethnicity, was shot and killed on March 20, 2015, in Columbus, Ohio. He was a passenger in a minivan near the Little Caesars Pizza at 5611 Chatterton Road when someone fired into the vehicle. Gemeraw was struck and later died at Mount Carmel East Hospital; the driver managed to drive several blocks to a friend’s house to call for help.

Investigators initially reported no suspects or motive and said three people fled the scene. On April 14, 2015, 19-year-old Nishawn Glenn-Coulverson was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting. Prosecutors later reported Glenn-Coulverson was found guilty of murder and two counts of felonious assault, with gun and gang specifications; testing showed all 10 shots were fired from a 9mm handgun, though the murder weapon was not recovered. Authorities said the attack appeared to have been committed without an apparent reason, possibly to enhance the shooter’s standing in a gang.

Gemaraw’s killing was the 15th homicide in Columbus that year and underscored concerns about gang violence and risks to innocent bystanders. If anyone knew Esak Tilahun Gemeraw or has information about the events that night, please come forward.