COLUMBUS, Ohio — An 18-year-old was fatally shot in northeast Columbus Monday, near the scene of another fatal shooting that happened last month.
The Columbus Division of Police says Antonio Jones died on the 2700 block of Brentnell Avenue, just south of Agler Road, the same place 24-year-old Dedrick Robinson was shot and killed in April.
Mechelle Leon, a director at Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children, said her 9-year-old grandson FaceTimed her on Monday after he heard the gunshots in a nearby apartment.
“He was like, 'Nana, look what happened.' He flipped it around and I was like, 'what happened?' Then, I said 'wow,'” said Leon. “He said someone was lying on the ground over there. It was two people actually I guess."
Shattered glass is left where the shooting happened.
A neighbor told us a bullet went into her building down the street.
“It's heart-wrenching because my son was also 18 when he was killed. You kind of automatically relive that moment,” Leon said.
In 2009, Leon’s 18-year-old son was with another teen at a graduation party when someone, who was shooting at the friend, shot and killed her son.
Leon knows this pain all too well.
“My immediate thoughts go to the parents because I know what they are facing. I know what they are going to be facing for the rest of their lives,” Leon said.
She said she jumped into action in April when she was visiting her daughter and grandson and heard gunshots in the same area as Monday night's homicide.
“I'm yelling, grab towels, grab towels. I ran over to him and he's lying there struggling to breathe,” she said.
Robinson did not survive.
As of Monday morning, there were 28 homicides in Columbus compared to 69 at this time last year. About a third of the victims are 21 or younger.
“These kids are not only losing siblings, but classmates,” Leon said.
With her group, Mothers of Murdered Columbus Children, they are trying to keep the homicides under triple digits.
Leon said her goal is to keep more kids from being traumatized by the violence like her grandson.
“He said, 'I don't want to die.' No one wants to die, but at 9 years old, that shouldn't be a thought,” she said.