On December 2, 2023, just after midnight on the 2000 block of Cornell Avenue in northeast Columbus, 46-year-old Malik Islam was shot during a street confrontation. Police found him lying in the road with a gunshot wound; medics took him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Initial reports say Islam had been conversing with a suspect when the shooting occurred and investigators did not publicly disclose a motive.

The investigation focused on LaRoy Robinson, then 49, who was charged with murder after surrendering to authorities in late December 2023. At a May 2024 jury trial, Robinson testified that Islam approached his parked car, initiated a verbally aggressive confrontation and reached into a pocket in a manner Robinson believed was for a gun, prompting Robinson to fire once and drive away. The jury convicted Robinson of murder, but the judge later set that verdict aside and ordered a new trial, saying jurors had received improper self-defense instructions.

If anyone witnessed the December 2 confrontation or has information about what happened that night, please share what is known.