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Police continuing search for suspect in deadly 2021 Bicentennial Park shooting

There is a $25,000 reward out for information leading to an arrest in the case.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Police are continuing the search for a suspect more than two years after five people were hurt and a 16-year-old girl was killed in a shooting during a party at Bicentennial Park in downtown Columbus.

Just before midnight on May 22, 2021, someone fired dozens of shots into the crowd gathered at the park.

Olivia Kurtz, 16, was pronounced dead just after 1 a.m. that night. Five other people, all under the age of 20, were also injured in the shooting.

"People started shooting. I can't tell you why. I'm far from solving this case," said Columbus police Detective Delbert Chapman. "No real tips have ever come in. There's got to be somebody that had seen something happen."

There's nothing Chapman wants more than to make an arrest in the case, but he said he needs more evidence and help from those who were at the park during the shooting.

He said the police do have some cellphone video and content from cellphones that were left behind at the scene, but nothing that showed evidence of the shooting.

There is a $25,000 reward out for information leading to an arrest in the case.

Columbus police Major Crimes Commander Mark Denner is hoping someone will do the right thing and say something.

"I would ask them if it's their family member, if it's their friend, would they want somebody else to come forward. I think we both agree that answer is yes," Denner said.

Chapman said he needs just one person to paint the picture for him and tell him what happened that day.

"A young girl lost her life. We need to fix that and give some closure to Olivia's mom," Chapman said.

   

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