On October 31, 2024, at about 8:59 PM, Columbus police responded to a shooting in the 1000 block of Fordham Road in the Maize-Morse neighborhood on the city’s North Side. Officers found 37-year-old Dennis Peoples III in front of a residence with a gunshot wound; he was taken to a local hospital but was pronounced dead at 9:31 PM.

Dennis Ray Peoples III was born January 16, 1987, in Columbus to Dennis R. and Dianna (Tackett) Peoples and lived in Westerville at the time of his death. The Columbus Division of Police Homicide Bureau, Homicide Team 3 Unit, is investigating. Detective C. Journey is the lead, assisted by Detective Kirby, and investigators are looking into a claim of self-defense. No arrests have been announced; when the probe is complete a case packet will be sent to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office for review and possible Grand Jury consideration.

If anyone has information about what happened that night, contact Detective Journey at (614) 645-4953, the Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730, or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).