Columbus man faces murder charge 17 years after alleged shooting

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A Columbus man charged with murder after a shooting that occurred 17 years ago faced a judge Friday afternoon.

A Franklin County Common Pleas judge issued a $1 million bond for 50-year-old DeShawne Stewart, who is indicted on two counts of murder with firearm specifications. According to Columbus police, Stewart allegedly shot Wendell Davis on July 8, 2006, on South James Road in Eastmoor.

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DeShawne Stewart (Courtesy/Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)
DeShawne Stewart (Courtesy/Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)

Davis, 51, suffered a “catastrophic wound” when he was 33 years old and was confined to a wheelchair for the remainder of his life. He died on May 19, 2023, nearly 17 years later. On May 23 a Franklin County Coroner completed an autopsy and ruled Davis’s death a homicide.

An investigation led to the indictment of Stewart on Feb. 4 and two days later a warrant was issued for his arrest. A SWAT team placed Stewart in custody Feb. 19 and took him to Franklin County Jail.

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