Tuesday morning, November 5, 2024, started as a normal morning in the South Linden neighborhood, but it didn’t stay that way for long.
A shooting broke out near the 1300 block of East Blake Avenue, close to Cleveland Avenue, leaving one person dead and two others injured.
What made it even more unsettling was that this happened near two groups of canvassers encouraging people to vote.
The Columbus Police Department got the first call about the shooting at 11:44 a.m.
Officers arrived quickly and found a man, later identified as 22-year-old Nathaniel Camper, in critical condition.
He was rushed to Grant Medical Center, but sadly, doctors pronounced him dead at 12:08 p.m.
Two other victims, who haven’t been named, made their way to a hospital on their own to get treated for their injuries.
Witnesses at the scene described seeing a man in a bright yellow vest—like those worn for visibility—firing shots from a white van.
It sounded like he was using a semiautomatic weapon.
Investigators later found bullet casings near the intersection of Dresden and Maynard streets.
But even with this information, police are still trying to piece together exactly what happened.
The neighborhood was busy at the time.
Two groups of canvassers were out encouraging people to vote, which made some locals worry this might be a politically motivated attack.
But Sgt. James Fuqua, speaking to reporters later that afternoon, said there’s no evidence the shooting had anything to do with the election or the canvassers.
From what police know so far, it seems the violence started with an argument among the people involved.
Detectives and officers stayed at the scene for hours, talking to witnesses and collecting evidence.
Residents stood nearby, watching and wondering what could have led to something so tragic.
People were on edge, hoping to understand what had happened and whether it could’ve been avoided.
Canvassers from two organizations who were in the area at the time didn’t share any comments about what they might’ve seen or heard.
For now, it’s clear this wasn’t about politics or voting, but that doesn’t make it any less heartbreaking.
A young man lost his life, and two others are recovering from being shot.
If you have any information about the shooting, even the smallest detail could help.
Police are asking for tips and encourage people to reach out.
You can call Detective Poliseno at (614) 645-6420, the Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730, or share tips anonymously through Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).
As the investigation continues, the hope is that answers will come soon and those responsible will be held accountable.