A father in Columbus, Ohio, shot and killed his 16-year-old daughter after mistaking her for a home invader, according to police.
According to reports, the shooting took place in the family’s garage early Wednesday morning, the Columbus Dispatch reported.
Citing a police report, the paper noted that the teen’s mother told emergency dispatchers that the incident occurred after the home’s security alarm was triggered.
The paper managed to obtain the frenetic 911 call which lasted for around eight minutes, adding that both parents were heard trying to get the teen to wake up. She has been identified as Janae Hairston; she was a junior who attended Canal Winchester High School.
Police said they received a 911 call around 4:30 a.m. in which a caller said that someone had been shot inside the home after being confronted after the security alarm went off.
“Hairston’s father can be heard on the call, which lasts more than eight minutes, distraught and asking what his daughter was doing. Both parents are heard begging for the girl to wake up and asking when police will arrive. Officers arrived on the scene about five minutes after the call was placed,” the paper reported.
An emergency medical crew transported the teen to Mount Carmel East Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
High school officials notified parents of the tragedy in a note, informing them that counselors would be made available for students when they return from the holiday break. The Dispatch said the note also included links to resources deemed more readily accessible for students and parents trying to deal with the loss of Hairston.
“Detectives are continuing to investigate Hairston’s death, the seventh homicide to be reported in Columbus within a week and the third in three days. The case will be forwarded to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office for review,” the paper added.
Tuesday afternoon, police were called to Markison Ave. for a reported shooting to find 38-year-old Darold Reese who had suffered a gunshot wound. The paper said that he was rushed to OhioHealth Grant Medical center but he died around 5:30 p.m. the following day.
Also Tuesday, the police department said that the Franklin County Coroner announced that the death of a man in March was a homicide, which brought the city’s toll to 200 for the year.
“Bobby Nesbitt, 58, died March 10 after becoming unresponsive when a family member restrained him during an altercation at his Berwick home, police said,” the paper said.
In addition, the department is continuing to investigate the death of Preston Bell, 22, who was shot and killed around the 1100 block of Shady Lane Road on Columbus’ East Side at approximately 4:40 a.m. on Monday.
“There have now been 202 homicides reported in Columbus in 2021, the deadliest year in the city’s history,” the Dispatch noted.
Jon has over 30 years' worth of reporting experience, as well as an author and U.S. Army veteran. He has a BA in political science from Ashford University and an MA in national security studies/intelligence analysis from American Military University.
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