Cordell Jerome Tatney was 28 and lived in Columbus, Ohio. He worked for Davey Tree Service and was described by family as a devoted father and partner to Jasmine Griffin, with whom he shared two young sons, Jasiah and Jahkeem. Relatives remembered him as quiet but loyal and kind-hearted; nephews called him Uncle Worm.

On the afternoon of September 16, 2024, Tatney was visiting a friend’s apartment on the 4200 block of Cleveland Avenue when an argument ended in gunfire. A 25-year-old man named Deontae Daniel arrived with another unidentified male; witnesses said the pair briefly left and then returned, after which shots were fired. One witness reported seeing Daniel flee the apartment with a firearm and claim he had shot Tatney. Two children under two years old were present. Tatney was taken to Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and died of his wounds.

Police identified Daniel as the primary suspect, obtained a murder warrant, and later arrested and charged him. The second man who accompanied Daniel has not been publicly identified and remains at large. Anyone with information is asked to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.

Did anyone in the area see or recognize the second man who was with Daniel that afternoon?