Guy Cason

Guy William Cason, a 39-year-old father and music lover from Columbus, Ohio, was remembered for his love of cooking and his devotion to his three daughters. Born in Columbus on February 21, 1973, to Freida Cason, Guy was the youngest of three children. He attended Independence High School and was a former member of Ebenezer Baptist Church. Known for his interest in music, he worked as a DJ throughout the city. Those who loved him knew him as a good father to his girls, Paris Rain Cason, Paij Rikole, and Payton Ryanne Andrews, who were all dear to his heart. He was a man who enjoyed his hobbies, with cooking being a favorite alongside his passion for music.

The afternoon of Saturday, April 21, 2012, turned tragic at the home Guy shared with his parents on the city's Far East Side. Around 4:30 p.m., a man knocked on the front door of their duplex in the 2000 block of Bairsford Drive. One of Guy's parents answered the door to find a visitor asking specifically for Guy by name. When Guy came to the door, he began speaking with the man, who remained outside on the porch. According to police, there was no argument between the two men before the visitor suddenly opened fire.

The assailant shot Guy multiple times through the storm door, shattering a glass pane, before fleeing the scene. Witnesses reported seeing the suspect run south after the gunshots rang out. Guy collapsed just inside his home. When Columbus police officers arrived, they found Guy Cason deceased from his injuries. His parents were home at the time of the shooting, thrust into a scene of unimaginable horror. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear, though investigators looked into whether a past dispute might have played a role.

The Columbus police homicide squad launched an investigation into the city's 31st homicide of the year. Detectives learned that while the shooter asked for Guy by name, Guy did not appear to know his attacker. The suspect was described only as a tall Black man in his late 20s with a large build. Police canvassed the neighborhood and spoke with witnesses, but the gunman had vanished. In the immediate aftermath, no arrests were made, and investigators turned to the public for assistance in identifying the person responsible for Guy's murder.

Guy was preceded in death by his father, William Valentine, and other beloved family members. He was survived by his mother, Freida, and stepfather, Robert Smith; his three daughters; his brother, Shawn Cason Sr.; his sister, Tracy Williams; and a large extended family of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. His best friends, Antwon Taylor, Vance and Charles Brown, and Nathaniel Mitchell, were also left to mourn his sudden loss. A celebration of his life was held on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at the O.R. Woodyard Co. Funeral & Cremation Services South Chapel, followed by interment at Green Lawn Cemetery.

Years have passed since Guy Cason was killed in the doorway of his family home, and the case remains unsolved. The man who came to his door, asked for him by name, and took his life has never been brought to justice. The questions surrounding why a father was gunned down in front of his own parents on a quiet Saturday afternoon are still unanswered. The Columbus Division of Police continues to seek information that could lead to a breakthrough in this cold case.

The family of Guy Cason and law enforcement officials ask that anyone with information about the shooting, no matter how insignificant it may seem, come forward. Anyone with knowledge about the identity or whereabouts of the suspect is urged to contact the Columbus police homicide squad at 614-645-4730.