What we know about three shootings across Columbus including one in the Short North

Columbus police are investigating three overnight shootings, including in the city's Short North that injured multiple people and involved multiple officers.

North High Street, from First Avenue to Goodale Street, the popular nightspot just north of the Greater Columbus Convention Center, remained shut down to vehicles and pedestrians as of late Saturday morning.

Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant provided the following details:

Officers responded to a report of a shooting about 2:30 a.m. in the 600 block of North High Street. After they arrived at the scene, they heard more gunshots a short distance away, and multiple officers fired back.

Under Fire: An examination of gun violence across Columbus

As of late Saturday morning, Columbus police detectives and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents were still trying to determine precisely how many people were injured at each scene but said one person was in critical condition. No officers were injured, and a gun was found at the scene.

BCI is overseeing the investigation because officers were involved.

As of late Saturday morning, the area on North High Street remained closed, with dozens of yellow cards marking shell casings on a sidewalk near Prescott Street and out in the street.

"What we do know is this is an active scene," Bryant told The Dispatch. "There was an officer, and this is an officer-involved shooting."

Two people killed, including suspect, three others injured in shooting on St. Clair Avenue

Less than an hour after the Short North shooting, about 3:30 a.m., officers responded to a house in the 1400 block of St. Clair Avenue, where they found five people with gunshot wounds.

One person, Taylin Roland, 28, died at the scene, and the suspect, Keith Pleasant, 29, was taken to a hospital in critical condition with what Bryant said a preliminary investigation seemed to indicate was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Pleasant later died from his injuries, Columbus police spokesperson Melanie Amato said.

Three other people in their 20s and one in her 50s were taken to local hospitals and were expected to survive. A sixth person was in stable condition Saturday afternoon after suffering another injury but was not shot.

Man shot on East Whittier Street after argument, later dies at hospital

Officers responded about 4:40 a.m. to a report of a shooting in the 500 block of East Whittier Street, where they found David A. Davis, 36, suffering from a gunshot wound, according to police. Columbus Fire medics took Davis to a local hospital, where he died just after 5 a.m.

Police identified a suspect but had not arrested that person as of late Saturday morning, Bryant told The Dispatch. A preliminary investigation seemed to indicate the shooting was the result of an argument.

Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther addresses gun violence; criticizes state, federal lawmakers

At a community clean-up event Saturday morning on the Hilltop, Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther addressed all three shootings during comments to news outlets.

"This is the second time in under a week where folks have fired shots at officers," Ginther said. "That's completely and totally unacceptable."

He called on the community to stand up and support law enforcement and also criticized state and federal lawmakers for what he said makes guns too accessible.

"We need the state and federal governments to step up to keep guns off the street, and if they don't have the courage to do that, then they at least need to get out of our way and let us do it," he said. "I'm just talking basic common sense gun safety legislation."

Short North residents express fear, concern about growing violence

A passerby named Kenneth, who declined to give his last name because he was concerned for his safety, lives east of High Street and was walking his Great Dane shortly before 10 a.m. near Price Avenue.

"Apparently, between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m., you don't want to be out here without a rifle," he said. "If I were younger, in my 20s, I'd be out at these places until 2 a.m., but I'm not going anywhere near here after midnight."

D.J. Baugh, 31, who lives in the area with his girlfriend, Tara Guillozet, 28, said he was sleeping on the couch early Saturday morning when he awoke to the sounds of vehicles speeding away and a woman screaming for help.

"We never know what to expect when we go out, especially when the weather gets gets nice," Baugh said. "It's really unfortunate."

The couple said they have heard gunshots numerous times in the area and even had friends who had to dive underneath a table after hearing them while out at an outdoor patio.

"There's just the feeling that something may go wrong," Guillozet said.

The couple, who have lived in Columbus for two years, said they are saving money to buy a house in Dublin to get away from the violence.

Early-morning crime in the Short North along High Street became an issue last year due to a string of incidents, prompting the Columbus City Council — responding to complaints from residents — to object to renewing certain establishments' liquor licenses and limiting street food-vending hours. Gregory Coleman Jr., 37, died last year after being sucker-punched around 2:30 a.m. outside a bar in the 1000 block of North High Street, where he stopped for food at a food cart.

In late March, the council made changes to mobile food vendor regulations in an attempt to clear the area earlier after bars close, after residents said problems were the results of lingering on the streets. As of May 1, the city has required mobile food vendors operating in congested areas of the city like the Short North to cease operating at 2:30 a.m. rather than 3 a.m.

wbush@gannett.com; @ReporterBush

nshuda@dispatch.com; @NathanielShuda

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus police investigating 3 shootings, including in Short North