William Applegate

William Applegate, a 29-year-old White man, was shot and killed in his Columbus, Ohio, home on the afternoon of May 16, 2024. The fatal incident took place in the city’s North Linden neighborhood and was the culmination of a dispute with his roommate.

Around 1:21 p.m., Columbus police were dispatched to a residence in the 1200 block of Manchester Avenue for a reported roommate dispute. While officers were on their way, the call was updated to a shooting. Upon arrival, police found 37-year-old Brian Sias, Applegate’s roommate, standing on the front porch with his hands in the air. Sias told the officers he had a gun in the front pocket of his hoodie and was taken into custody. Inside the home, police discovered William Applegate suffering from a gunshot wound to his chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:31 p.m.

Investigators learned that the conflict began when Sias asked Applegate to move out of the residence, leading to a heated argument that turned physical. Sias claimed he had acted in self-defense. He told police that Applegate had pushed him to the ground and was repeatedly punching and kicking him when he managed to grab his gun, roll over, and fire. However, a police detective noted that Sias did not appear to have any injuries.

A witness at the scene provided a different account that contradicted Sias’s claim. The witness stated that Sias struck Applegate first. After Applegate hit him back, Sias fell to the floor. According to the witness, Sias then shot Applegate while he was on the ground. This shooting marked the 30th homicide in the city of Columbus for 2024.

Brian Sias was arrested and charged with murder and felonious assault. Following a trial, he was convicted of murdering William Applegate. In November 2025, Sias was sentenced to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole after serving 21 years.