COLUMBUS, OH – 16-year-old Marizah Thomas was arrested without incident by SWAT Unit officers this morning after being named as the suspect in the murder of a 12-year-old girl on Monday.
On Monday, July 12, 2021, at 7:38 pm, Columbus Police Officers were called to 1815 Ridgebury Dr. on a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found 17-year-old Jayce O’Neal suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Perry Township Medic 241 transported O’Neal to Doctor’s West Hospital in critical condition, where she was pronounced deceased at 8:30 pm.
Detectives determined that O’Neal and 16-year-old Marizah Thomas were fighting when Thomas produced a handgun and shot O’Neal, fatally wounding her. Following the shooting, Thomas fled the scene in a green 2010 Toyota Corolla, Ohio registration JHG-9071.
Detectives have filed an arrest warrant charging Thomas with Murder for causing O’Neal’s death. Anyone who knows Thomas’ whereabouts, or the location of the Corolla Thomas fled in, is asked to contact police at 614-645-4730 or degelhoff@columbuspolice.org or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).