On March 21, 2021, at approximately 1:14 a.m., a telephone call came into the Columbus Police Dispatch requesting a police response to 1338 Stone Ridge Drive where a person had been shot in the back. Columbus Police Officers working special duty in the area responded and observed three witnesses signaling over to the area where the victim was located by a white Chrysler 200. As the responding officer approach two females were observed performing C.P.R. on a male lying on the ground. The responding officer then took over chest compression until relieved by another responding officer and Columbus Fire Department Medic 23. The witnesses identified the victim as Mr. RONALD JONES JR. Mr. Jones was transported to Mount Carmel East Hospital in life threatening condition where he was pronounced deceased of his injuries at 1:52 a.m., by the emergency room physician.
A witness, the victim’s girlfriend, stated she drove the white Chrysler 200 with Mr. Jones Jr in the front passenger seat along with two other witnesses in the backseat. Once they arrived Mr. Jones Jr wanted to stay in the vehicle to sleep while everyone else attended the party. After almost an hour the three of them left from the party and walked down to the parking lot. She was first to the parking lot and observed the passenger side door opened on the vehicle. As she approached the vehicle she saw Mr. Jones Jr feet up in the air on the passenger side seat and his head down behind the driver seat in the back.
The three witnesses opened the left rear passenger door and pulled Mr. Jones Jr out on to the ground where they unzipped Mr. Jones Jr jacket, lifted his bloody shirt, and observed a small hole in his chest. They began to administer CPR and called the 911 for assistance.
It was later discovered a call was received by Columbus Police Dispatch at 12:33 a.m., by an unknown caller who heard one (1) gunshot but saw nothing in the area of 5176 Stone Ridge Drive South.
All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous. Crime Stoppers does not use Caller ID or record telephone conversations. A special coding system protects the identity of the caller. Crime Stoppers also takes calls from persons with information about any felony. Information leading to the arrest and/or indictment of a felony suspect could qualify the caller for a reward as determined by the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors. For more information on Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, visit our website at www.stopcrime.org.
Crime Stoppers is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization. Reward money comes from private individuals, businesses, and foundations that see Crime Stoppers as an integral tool in the community’s fight against crime. Tax-deductible donations can be sent to Central Ohio Crime Stopper’s, Inc., and P.O. BOX 16038, COLUMBUS, OH 43216-6038.
Watch for the depiction of each “Crime of the Week” during newscasts on WCMH NBC 4, Sunday morning 7a.m., 9 a.m. and at 6 p.m., as well as Monday 11 a.m. Also watch for the depiction to be aired on WBNS 10TV, WSYX ABC 6, WTTE FOX 28, and featured in The Columbus Dispatch every Monday.
.png)
