COLUMBUS, Ohio — An arrest warrant has been issued for a 19-year-old man who is suspected of fatally shooting two women and injuring another person near a pub in south Columbus on Sept. 13, according to police.
The Columbus Division of Police identified the shooting suspect as Joseph Bryan Howard. Howard is charged with murder.
Officers were called to the 1500 block of South High Street between the Hungarian Village and Merion Village neighborhoods just before 11:40 p.m. on a report of a shooting. The scene was located near Double D’s Pub on High Street.
Records from the Franklin County Municipal Court stated that 24-year-old Taya Mollette and 24-year-old Tavia Copley were involved in a physical altercation outside the bar.
During the fight, court records say Howard, who police say is Mollette's brother, approached the women and fired a handgun, striking both of them and the third shooting victim.
Police wrote in the affidavit that Howard approached Copley a second time while she was on the ground.
Detectives said Copley was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:46 p.m. Mollette was taken to the hospital in critical condition and later died from her injuries.
Police said a third shooting victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition, but their condition has since improved. The victim is expected to survive their wounds.
Police are asking anyone with information on Howard’s whereabouts to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).