Christopher Cooper-Patton, an 18-year-old Black male from Columbus, Ohio, was shot late on the night of March 31, 2026, in the 1600 block of Elaine Road on the city’s east side. Officers arrived around 10:40 p.m. and found him with a gunshot wound; he was taken to Mount Carmel East Hospital in critical condition. Homicide detectives were assigned after police described his injuries as catastrophic.

Christopher was pronounced dead on April 4, 2026, at 4:36 p.m.; some memorials list March 31 as the date he was lost to gun violence, but police reports show March 31 as the shooting and April 4 as the date of death. Public fundraising information described him as a talented basketball player, a beloved son, and a member of the Cooper and Patton families, and noted his family arranged organ donation after the tragedy.

As of the latest reports, police have not released a suspect name, announced any arrests, or identified a motive. Detective Radich is listed as lead, assisted by Detective Niederkohr; anyone with information is asked to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers. Did anyone in the area see or hear anything the night of March 31 that could help investigators?