Dezmond Anthony Vaughn-Butler was 17 when he was shot in the South Linden neighborhood of Columbus on October 31, 2023. The shooting happened about 9:30 PM in an alley behind a residence on Cleveland Avenue. He was taken to Grant Medical Center and died of his injuries on November 1, 2023.

Witnesses said a verbal altercation with a 16-year-old male occurred shortly before the shooting, and that the 16-year-old allegedly shot Vaughn-Butler in the head with a semi-automatic rifle. Surveillance footage showed a second shooter, 18-year-old Dante Johnston, firing shots during the incident. Both juveniles and Johnston have been charged with murder. The 16-year-old was scheduled to appear in court on November 7 and Johnston on November 9; Johnston was being held on a $500,000 bond.

Community leaders have voiced concern about continued gun violence and are seeking solutions. If anyone has information about what happened that night, please come forward.