Jacob Anthony Coons, a 25-year-old White man from Columbus, Ohio, was a devoted father of five who loved to fish with his children and play pool. Remembered by his family as a loving person and a natural protector, Jacob's life was defined by the deep care he had for his loved ones. He was a son, a brother, and a father to three daughters, Adrianna, Neveah, and Gemma, and two sons, Noah and Eli. His sister, Brookelynn Dyer, recalled him as someone who made you feel safe, saying, "You knew that he would protect you, that you were fine. He was very much a protector, a lover." His mother, Misty Hall, described him as her heart.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, July 28, 2024, Jacob was at Charley's Place, a bar in the Franklinton neighborhood of Columbus. An argument broke out with another man during a game of pool. According to court documents based on witness statements, the dispute escalated into a physical fight.
After the two men were separated, the other man, identified as 32-year-old Duron A. Thomas Sr., allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired multiple times. The gunfire struck Jacob and a second person, an innocent bystander.
Columbus Division of Police officers responded to a report of the shooting at the bar, located in the 300 block of South Glenwood Avenue, around 1:45 a.m. They arrived to find two people with gunshot wounds. Medics pronounced Jacob Coons dead at the scene at 1:50 a.m. The second victim was transported to a local hospital in stable condition and was expected to survive their injuries. The investigation into the city's 75th homicide of the year began immediately.
Detectives quickly identified Duron A. Thomas Sr. as the suspect, and a warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge of murder. Police records indicated that Thomas had been released from prison in September 2023 after serving 11 years for aggravated robbery and felonious assault. Despite the warrant, Thomas managed to evade capture, leaving Jacob's family in a painful state of uncertainty. For nearly two years, they pleaded with the public for help. "You can't bring nobody back when you do some coward stuff like that, take somebody's life from them," said Jacob's father, Randy Coons. His mother spoke of her sleepless nights and the difficulty of explaining the loss to his children. "You're looking at his five babies saying, 'I want my daddy back.' How do you explain to a 4-year-old that he's never gonna see his daddy again," Misty Hall said.
The search for Thomas spanned multiple jurisdictions. The U.S. Marshals Southern Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (SOFAST) took up the investigation, and Central Ohio Crime Stoppers offered a cash reward for information leading to his arrest. For months, Thomas, also known as "Wooda," remained a fugitive, considered armed and dangerous. His family’s torment was compounded by taunts from people connected to the suspect, who claimed he would never be caught.
After more than eighteen months on the run, investigators received information that Thomas might be hiding in the Toledo area. On the morning of February 2, 2026, members of the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force located Thomas at a residence in the 600 block of Berry Street in Toledo. When officers approached, Thomas briefly attempted to flee inside the house before surrendering. The arrest brought a profound sense of relief to Jacob's family. "We've been in agony every day waiting for the day that they found him so Jacob could get justice," his sister said.
As of February 2026, Duron Thomas Sr. was in custody in Toledo, awaiting extradition to Franklin County to face the charges of murder and felonious assault for the killing of Jacob Coons. While the family's nightmare is not over, the apprehension marked a critical step toward justice in a case that left a family shattered and a community calling for an end to senseless violence. Anyone with information about the case was previously asked to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers.
