A triple homicide in a Columbus, Ohio home on Saturday, December 14, has triggered an intricate investigation, leaving local law enforcement grappling with the mystery.
The deceased, identified as Sierra Muse, 34, Dawn Clover, 49, and Tiffany Parrish, 36, were discovered by De’Andre Herndon who had gone to check on a friend at the residence located in the 1300 block of South Ohio Avenue. Herndon had intended to check on the wife of his childhood friend, Darrell Hambrick, who had tragically lost his life to gun violence just four days prior.
As Columbus Police Sergeant James Fuqua stated to the media, “Unfortunately, this is a very complex scene with the amount of victims that we have. It’s going to take a little bit longer to make sure that we’re very careful in going through the scene meticulously so we do not miss any key piece of evidence.”
First responders arriving around 4 PM encountered a tragic scene where three female victims had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. The initial discovery was of one victim with a head wound, followed by the location of two more victims. All three women were deceased when found at the scene.
In response to community concerns, the Columbus Division of Police has confirmed that the murders do not appear to be the work of a serial killer. They are, however, considering potential links to the recent homicide of Darrell Hambrick that took place on December 10 on the 700 block of East Moler Street. Although a suspect has been apprehended in the Hambrick case, additional suspects may be involved in both cases.
Authorities are conducting in-depth interviews with potential witnesses and are in the process of gathering video evidence. As of Saturday evening, no suspects had been taken into custody. Law enforcement is appealing to the public for assistance, asking anyone with cell phone or surveillance footage from the area to come forward.
The ongoing investigation has uncovered potential drug involvement in the crime. As per Herndon’s account, the location was known as a “trap house,” typically a term for a place frequented by drug users. Notably, the wife of Herndon’s friend Hambrick, whom he had intended to check on, was not among the victims as she was in a hospital receiving cancer treatment.
An official report from the police has classified the shooting as “drug-related.”
The Columbus Police Department is diligently working on both cases, trying to discern any connections between the December 10 homicide and this recent triple shooting.