A violent dispute at an apartment complex on Columbus, Ohio’s Northeast Side left one person dead and another injured after gunfire erupted near a local mosque. Local law enforcement and federal agencies responded to the incident on Monday afternoon, quickly clarifying that the religious facility was not the target of the violence.
Police Confirm Incident Was Not an Attack on the Mosque
The Columbus Division of Police received multiple emergency calls reporting gunfire at approximately 2:11 p.m. on Monday. The calls directed officers to the 2200 block of Albert Avenue, located east of Westerville Road, where the Alrahma Mosque sits alongside a cluster of two-story apartment buildings.
According to Columbus Police Sgt. James Fuqua, the shooting occurred outside during a funeral service taking place inside the mosque. However, investigators emphasized that the violence was entirely unrelated to the religious services or the facility itself.
“We want to make it clear this was not an attack on the mosque,” Sgt. James Fuqua told reporters at the scene, noting that the incident involved an altercation between two groups of people outside.
Casualties and Federal Response
Columbus Division of Fire medics pronounced one victim dead at the scene at 2:19 p.m. Authorities subsequently located a second victim injured in the gunfire, though officials have not yet disclosed that person’s current medical condition or the identities of those involved.
The Bureau of Alcohol, , Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Columbus also deployed agents to the area following initial reports. An ATF spokesperson noted that the investigation remains in its early stages as personnel work to piece together the exact facts and circumstances leading up to the fatal shooting.
Crowd Control and Community Impact
Local media outlets reported that funeral attendees and community members spilled out onto Albert Avenue following the gunfire, leading to tense moments as police worked to manage a large crowd in the street. Witnesses reported hearing several shots fired in the immediate vicinity of the apartment complex, situated just a few hundred feet from the mosque entrance.
The Columbus Division of Police continues to investigate the active case. Authorities have urged anyone with relevant information regarding the shooting or the suspects involved to contact local law enforcement or the Columbus Police department directly.
