Two men involved in deadly shootings heard their fate in Franklin County courts, and a teen who accidentally shot his friend will remain in custody for the foreseeable future.
Here’s a look at these and other cases in this week’s court hearing:
Man involved in fatal Italian Village nightclub shooting avoids jail
The brother of a man who admitted to a fatal shooting behind an Italian Village nightclub in 2023 will avoid prison time.
Micheal Mickens, 25, entered a guilty plea to an aggravated assault charge Wednesday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in the June 19 death of 29-year-old Isiaha Thompson-Angus.
Judge Jaiza Page ordered him to serve ten months of probation.
Mickens’ brother, 27-year-old Michael Mickens Jr., pleaded guilty last week to murder and was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 15 years.
Around 4 a.m. on June 19, a passerby found Thompson-Angus near the dumpsters behind the Go-Go in Italian Village. Surveillance video from the club showed the younger Mickens and Thompson-Angus walking and fighting near the dumpsters about two hours before Thompson-Angus was found shot.
During the fight, video showed the elder Mickens running to the dumpster area and reaching into the front pocket of his shorts before participating in the fight.
Prosecutors said the elder Mickens admitted to shooting Thompson-Angus.
Man convicted in fatal shooting in Sheetz parking lot
A 23-year-old man will spend seven years in prison after admitting his involvement in a shooting in a Sheetz parking lot that left another man dead.
Malike Miller, 23, agreed to plead guilty to attempted discharge of a firearm in a restricted area and possession of a firearm while under disability, court records show. Charges of murder and voluntary manslaughter were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
Judge Bill Sperlazza ordered Miller to serve seven years in prison. As part of his plea deal, Miller agreed that he would not apply for parole.
On March 3, 2023, Columbus police found 23-year-old Jared Porter in the parking lot of a Sheetz gas station on South Hamilton Road near the US 33 interchange in Groveport.
Miller was initially charged with murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection with Porter’s death.
Teenager must remain behind bars until he is 21 for shooting a classmate
A 17-year-old boy will remain in juvenile detention until his 21st birthday after admitting to shooting 16-year-old Keontae Harper on April 23, 2023.
Denarius Crowder, 17, and Harper, who were classmates at Independence High School, were both at a house party at 2900 Falcon Bridge Drive on the city’s southeast side. During the party, police say Crowder was playing with a gun and pulled the trigger.
There was one bullet in the armory, which struck Harper in the head. The 16-year-old lived for several weeks before dying from his injuries.
Crowder entered the juvenile equivalent of a guilty plea to a reckless homicide charge and was sentenced to three years and 44 days in the custody of the Department of Youth Services. He will be released on his 21st birthday.
Crowder is one of two 17-year-olds recently convicted in reckless homicide cases.
Teen admits fatal shooting of 15-year-old
Marshawn Byrd, who is now 17, has also entered the equivalent of a guilty plea to a reckless homicide charge in Franklin County Juvenile Court.
On March 12, 2023, around 12:25 p.m., Columbus police officers found 15-year-old Keshawn Watson, who had been shot on the 2900 block of Sandridge Road on the city’s northeast side.
Watson was rushed to an area hospital, but died from his injuries on March 16, 2023.
Byrd was initially charged with assault in Watson’s shooting, but the charge was upgraded after Watson died.
Byrd will serve a minimum of three years and six months in the custody of the Department of Youth Services, but could remain there until his 21st birthday.
bbruner@gannett.com
This article originally appeared in The Columbus Dispatch: Court summary: Men convicted in fatal Sheetz shooting, nightclub fight
