Two dead, two injured in downtown Columbus nightclub shooting

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Two people have died and another two are injured after a shooting at a nightclub in downtown Columbus on early Friday morning. Officers responded to Aura, formerly known as Avalon nightclub, in the 200 block of North Fifth at about 1:45 a.m. on Friday on report of a shooting, according to the Columbus Division of Police. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while another died after being transported to a local hospital. “Going into what should be a great weekend with a lot of really positive events, at least two families related to this incident are now suffering heartbreak,” said Greg Bodker, Columbus assistant chief of police. A third victim was also taken to a local hospital in critical condition, and a fourth victim was transported in stable condition. A large police presence continued to investigate throughout the morning, with homicide detectives on site and crime scene tape blocking off a large portion of the property. Traffic cones were placed along the front of the club to mark evidence. Authorities said the incident sprang from an altercation outside the club, leading to shots fired. Police noted there were a lot of patrons at the club when the shooting occurred, and detectives are relying on witnesses to get answers. No one is in custody at this time and the homicide team is continuing to investigate, police said. The incident occurred just minutes after police were called to another shooting in southeast Columbus. Officers responded to a gas station at about 1:40 a.m. on Friday. One person was transported to a local hospital where they later were pronounced dead. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.