A deadly shooting claimed the lives of 42-year-old Antwan Lewis and 31-year-old Harol Forrest III, known as “Laboy Yung,” on Wednesday afternoon, February 26, 2025, at an apartment complex in southeast Columbus, Ohio.
Columbus Police responded to a shooting report at 4:35 p.m. in the 4100 block of Blakewell Lane East, where a woman arriving at the scene discovered both men with gunshot wounds.
She immediately dialed 911, but despite swift emergency response, one victim was pronounced dead at 4:41 p.m., while the other was rushed to Mount Carmel East Hospital in critical condition, only to succumb to his injuries at 5:04 p.m.
The incident unfolded in the Southern Pines neighborhood, a residential area near Noe-Bixby Road, known for its quiet apartment complexes. The woman’s frantic call brought officers to the unit, where they found Lewis and Forrest III, both local residents, in dire straits.
Posts on social media captured the initial shock, with users noting the rapid police presence and cordoned-off street, a stark disruption to the midweek calm. Authorities have yet to clarify the relationship between the victims or the woman who found them, leaving the circumstances of their deaths shrouded in mystery as the investigation intensifies.
Columbus Police have released no suspect information or motive, a silence that has fueled speculation among the community and online. The shooting site, part of a cluster of low-rise apartments, was locked down for hours as detectives canvassed for witnesses and scoured the area for evidence, including potential surveillance footage.
This double homicide marks the sixth and seventh killings in Columbus for 2025, adding to a violent February that has seen multiple fatalities across the city. The lack of immediate arrests has heightened local tension, with residents expressing concern over safety in what’s typically a subdued corner of the southeast side.
Antwan Lewis and Harol Forrest III’s deaths have left a void, with Forrest known locally as “Laboy Yung,” a nickname hinting at a persona that may tie to the city’s underground music or street scene, though details remain sparse.
The woman who discovered them, described only as a visitor, is not considered a suspect, but her account is pivotal to unraveling the lead-up to the gunfire. The Columbus Division of Police is urging anyone with information to contact their Felony Assault Unit at 614-645-4141 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477, offering anonymity for tips.
This tragedy joins a troubling pattern in Columbus, where southeast side shootings have ticked up in recent years, including a non-fatal incident at the same Blakewell Lane complex in April 2024. The Southern Pines area, while residential, sits near busy corridors like Refugee Road, making it a crossroads of sorts.
As the investigation unfolds—now just over 15 hours since the first shots were reported at 8:09 a.m. PST on February 27—the focus remains on piecing together why Lewis and Forrest III were targeted. For now, their deaths cast a long shadow over a community left searching for answers and grappling with yet another senseless loss.