Authorities ID Victims In Double Murder-Suicide

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Authorities released the names of two more fatal-shooting victims after a double murder-suicide late Thursday.

NBC 4’s Tom Brockman reported with the FAST FACTS.

Three people were fatally shot late Thursday, and detectives said one of the victims pulled the trigger.

CPD was called to 2998 Clevelawn Place on the city’s Northeast Side close to 10:23 p.m. on reports of a shooting.

Officers found a female gunshot victim on the side porch. She later was identified as 35-year-old Kimberly Miller.

More officers arrived on the scene and entered 3001 Clevelawn Place.

Officers found 62-year-old Phillip Columbus and 32-year-old Shawn Rayburn fatally shot with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies. 

CPD said Miller, who had a gunshot wound to her neck, ran from 3001 Clevelawn Place to a neighbor’s home. The neighbor was the one who called 911, officials said.

“I heard the gunshots. I saw her running out the door, yelling for help,” neighbor Monte Pryor said.

Pryor said Miller was gasping for air by the time she made it to his porch.

He said Miller’s last words were, “Help me.”

Miller was transported to OSU Main Medical Center where she died from her injuries at 11:38 p.m.

Investigators said they think Columbus shot Rayburn and Miller before he turned the firearm on himself after an argument.

Columbus’ family said Columbus had been dating Miller on and off for about five years and she lived with Columbus.

Columbus’ son, Glenn Columbus, said while the couple had past problems, his father was not a violent person.

Neighbors and family both said arguments between Columbus and Miller were common.

“They’ve had a lot of problems, and apparently something just snapped,” Glenn said.

“I’ve seen them argue before but never anything as violent to go to gunshots or anything,” Pryor said.

Rayburn’s relationship to Columbus and Miller remained unclear currently.

The home at 3001 Clevelawn Place was owned by Columbus, authorities said.

CPD confirmed officers have made prior runs to the address.

The reason or cause for the final argument, though, likely will remain a mystery.

“We know what transpired in there, but the reason why it transpired we’ll never know,” CPD Homicide Detective Sgt. Dana Norman said.

Anyone with information on the city’s 43rd and 44th homicide of 2009 was asked to call CPD’s homicide squad at 614-645-4730.

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