Six months later, charges have not been refiled in shooting of 13-year-old Sinzae Reed

Six months after 13-year-old Sinzae Reed was fatally shot in Columbus' Hilltop neighborhood, Franklin County prosecutors have not brought the case before a grand jury, which would decide whether to charge the shooter. Online activists have drawn comparisons this week between the fatal shooting of Sinzae in October and the shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl in Kansas City. Both cases involve a white man who admitted to shooting a young Black teen, saying they did so in self-defense.

Here's what we do and don't know about Sinzae's death.

What is the status of the investigation into Sinzae's death?

According to Columbus police, 36-year-old Krieg Butler fatally shot Sinzae on Oct. 12 at the Wedgewood Apartments complex in Columbus' Hilltop neighborhood.

Police arrested Butler and charged him with murder within a few days of the shooting. After Butler told authorities he shot in self-defense, Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack’s office dropped charges a few days later to await additional evidence, including the autopsy report and the results of ballistic tests.

The autopsy report was released publicly on Jan. 17. Columbus police said they wrapped up their investigation in February.

Franklin County First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Janet Grubb, who oversees the office's criminal division, told The Dispatch this week that the office has no comment on the case at this time.

"The matter is still under active review and investigation," Grubb said.

What do we know about the shooting?

Columbus police were called at about 5:45 p.m. on Oct. 12 to the Wedgewood apartment complex in the Hilltop on a report of a shooting. According to court records, an eyewitness saw Butler exit a red truck and fire multiple times at Sinzae.

Butler then entered his vehicle and fled the scene, according to court records. Officers responding to a report of a shooting found Sinzae with gunshot injuries and provided medical aid until paramedics arrived. Sinzae was rushed in life-threatening condition to OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, where he died at 6:26 p.m.

Related for subscribers: 'There's no heroes out here,' Sinzae Reed's death adds to toll at Hilltop apartments

Was Sinzae armed?

Columbus police have not said whether Sinzae had a gun or other weapon. Megan Reed, the boy's mother, told The Dispatch he did not have gun.

She did say that a police detective asked why she would let her son carry a gun. Reed said Sinzae did not have a weapon on him when he was shot.

"Why would I let him carry a gun? They would’ve found it over there. He didn’t have nothing on him,” Reed said.

What does the autopsy report reveal?

An autopsy report released publicly on Jan. 17 by the Franklin County Coroner's office determined that Sinzae was shot twice, including a fatal wound to his chest.

One of the shots hit Sinzae in the wrist on his right, predominant hand. The bullet was found lodged in his wrist. The other shot struck Sinzae on the right side of his chest, damaging his heart and a lung before exiting through his back, ultimately causing his death, the report states.

Both of the bullet wounds struck Sinzae in a trajectory that went front to back, according to the report, dispelling rumors that Sinzae was shot in the back.

Why were charges dismissed against Butler?

Prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss the case against Butler in Franklin County Municipal Court on Oct. 19. Authorities said Butler alleged that he had fired shots at Sinzae in self-defense.

Why wasn't Butler charged for illegally having a firearm?

Butler has a prior conviction from 2019 for misdemeanor domestic violence in Franklin County Municipal Court. Federal law bars people with domestic violence convictions from carrying firearms, putting them under what is commonly called disability.

Ohio law does not have a prohibition against people with misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence from carrying firearms. Ohio law prohibits convicted felons from having firearms in their possession.

Because Butler's conviction would bar him from having a gun only under federal law, Franklin County prosecutors cannot file that charge against him.

No charges have been filed in federal court.

Who was Sinzae Reed?

In his obituary, family members remembered Sinzae, who went by "Zay," as a boy who loved music, video games and spending time with his friends. Sinzae attended KIPP Columbus, a charter school on the Northeast Side.

How has the Kansas City case been handled?

Andrew Lester, 84, shot Yarl in the head and arm after the teen knocked on the wrong home's door on the evening of April 13. Yarl mistakenly went to the wrong address to pick up his siblings.

Lester told police that night he shot Yarl immediately after answering the door when he saw Yarl pulling on the door handle. Lester was released that night.

On Monday, the prosecutor in Kansas City announced two felony charges against Lester, assault in the first degree and armed criminal action.

Going deeper: How Ohio laws make it easier to claim self-defense in cases like Sinzae Reed's death

Why have prosecutors not presented the Columbus case to a grand jury?

The Franklin County Prosecutor's office declined to comment on why they haven't yet taken this case before a grand jury, which would decide whether to charge Butler with a crime.

Prosecutors must tread lightly with claims of self-defense since Republicans in the Ohio General Assembly passed laws in recent years making it easier for defendants to claim they used force in self-defense, Robert Barnhart, a Capital University Law School assistant professor, told Dispatch for a special report in January.

Grubb told The Dispatch then that claiming self-defense is not a "get out of jail free" card. There is no statute of limitations for bringing a murder charge against someone, she and other law experts have noted.

But Grubb added that “you’d be surprised” how many cases — not just cases with self-defense claims — the office must dismiss while gathering evidence.

“It’s a case-by-case consideration,” Grubb said. “Some cases have more evidence than others that are readily apparent. Some cases will have the surveillance video or cooperative witnesses.”

The Columbus Dispatch staff writers Bethany Bruner and Cole Behrens contributed to this report.

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: No charges six months after fatal shooting of 13-year-old Sinzae Reed