Columbus, Ohio – A Columbus man has accepted a plea deal that could sentence him to life in prison for his involvement in two shootings at local restaurants, one of which resulted in the tragic death of an 18-year-old at a Roosters establishment on the Northeast Side of the city.
The defendant, identified as Jesus Castro, 20, admitted to the murder of Marshawn Davis, 18, who was fatally shot on February 18, 2022, while inside a Roosters location on East Dublin-Granville Road. The incident was captured on surveillance footage, showing Castro arriving in a vehicle, firing a shot at Davis, and then fleeing the scene.
In addition to the murder charge, Castro also pleaded guilty to a second shooting that took place on March 6, 2022, in front of Ena’s Caribbean Kitchen on Cleveland Avenue. The prosecutor revealed that two men were injured during this incident, with one sustaining multiple gunshot wounds that resulted in permanent damage.
As part of the plea agreement, charges related to Castro crashing his vehicle into Columbus police cars were dropped. During the sentencing hearing, Davis’ mother and the sister of the second shooting victim expressed their anguish and questioned Castro’s motives behind the violence.
Despite apologizing to the victims’ families in court, Castro did not provide a clear explanation for his actions. Prosecutors confirmed that the motive behind the shootings remains unclear, as Castro and Davis were known to have been former friends who attended school together.
Authorities disclosed that there was likely a personal dispute between Castro and Davis, but the exact nature of their conflict remains undisclosed. The case sheds light on the tragic consequences of unresolved conflicts and the devastating impact of gun violence within communities.