Craig Butler, 37, was charged in Franklin County Circuit Court with improper handling of a firearm and tampering with evidence, court records show.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Franklin County grand jury declined to indict a man who shot a 13-year-old boy in west Columbus last year with a homicide.
Craig Butler, 37, was charged in Franklin County Circuit Court with improper handling of a firearm and tampering with evidence, according to court records. The charges relate to the October 12, 2022, murder of Sindz Reed.
The shooting happened on Wedgewood Drive. Police found Reed shot outside and he died of his injuries less than an hour after officers arrived.
A Franklin County Coroner’s report found he was shot twice, once in the chest and once in the right arm.
Columbus police initially charged Butler with murder, but he claimed he was acting in self-defense when he shot Reed.
After the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office learned of the allegation, Butler was charged were dropped pending the completion of the investigation into the shooting.
Evidence and testimony were presented to a grand jury this week in the case. The jury ruled that Butler would be charged with tampering with evidence with a year-old firearm specification and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle.
A warrant was issued for Butler’s arrest.
The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office is not commenting further on the case.
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https://www.10tv.com/article/news/crime/sinzae-reed-death-grand-jury-charges/530-045ea0fe-39f3-48aa-8a2e-0cf66f204ff2
