Desmond Taylor, 27, was killed in a shooting outside the Avalon nightclub in downtown Columbus on June 14, 2024. The shooting occurred about 1:45 a.m. during an altercation that involved multiple people. Taylor, a security guard from Columbus, was pronounced dead at the scene; another victim, 36-year-old Ceilin Ricard Peaks Smith, died shortly after at a local hospital. Two other people suffered non-life-threatening injuries, bringing the total number shot in the incident to four.

The Columbus Division of Police opened an extensive investigation, using eyewitness accounts and surveillance footage to reconstruct events. Investigators initially struggled to identify suspects or a motive and appealed to the public for information. The shooting has raised concerns about safety at nightlife venues in the city, particularly at the Avalon nightclub. If anyone has information about what happened that night or knew Desmond Taylor, please come forward to assist the investigation.