In the early morning hours of July 5, 2026, officers responded to a reported shooting at a University District residence in the 200 block of East Hudson Street in Columbus. They found two people with gunshot wounds; 25-year-old Black man Tonzaih Johnson was discovered unresponsive in the front room and was pronounced dead at 4:14 a.m. A second victim survived and was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

Detectives treating the case as a domestic-related incident say interviews produced a preliminary theory that the shooting may have occurred during a roommate dispute and could involve an assertion of self-defense. The Columbus Police Homicide Unit, led by Detective Polgar with Detective Komisarek assisting, is investigating. No arrests have been announced and no official suspects named; investigators will forward their findings to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office for review. If anyone has information about the events at the Hudson Street residence that morning, please share it with investigators.