A parking-lot argument in a north Columbus neighborhood turned deadly late on January 22, 2026. Jon E. Small, 32, was involved in a verbal dispute with another man in the 4600 block of Tamarack Boulevard that escalated to gunfire. Small was taken to a hospital around 11 p.m. with a gunshot wound and died shortly after midnight on January 23, 2026.

Police identified 44-year-old Kenneth Milton as the man involved in the argument and allege he fired the fatal shot. Milton fled the scene but was located and arrested by Columbus SWAT officers within hours; he was booked on counts of murder and felonious assault and had an initial court appearance scheduled for the Saturday after the arrest. The other person with Small was not injured.

Detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them. Did anyone in the Tamarack Boulevard area see or hear anything that night?