Marshaun Clark

Marshaun D. Clark, a 30-year-old Black man known to friends and family for his humor and laughter, was a talented barber who attended Linden McKinley High School in Columbus, Ohio. Those who knew him, some of whom called him "Fat boi" or "Big Shaun," remembered a man whose presence would be deeply missed. His life was cut short in a burst of violence on a summer afternoon, leaving his loved ones to navigate a long and complicated path toward an elusive sense of justice.

The fatal encounter occurred around 12:50 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. According to the Columbus Division of Police, an argument that began inside a home in the 2200 block of Dawnlight Avenue in the South Linden neighborhood spilled out into the driveway. The dispute escalated, and Marshaun was shot multiple times. When police and paramedics arrived, they found him unresponsive in the driveway. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His death was recorded as the 65th homicide in Columbus that year.

Investigators immediately began searching for two male suspects who were seen fleeing the area, heading south on Dawnlight Avenue in a white Ford F-150 pickup truck. Police spoke with the homeowner and a work crew that had been in the vicinity at the time of the shooting, hoping to piece together what had happened. Sgt. Dave Sicilian of the Columbus Police warned the community that the suspects should be considered armed and dangerous, stating, "We don't know why this situation occurred, and we don't know what the altercation was about."

In March 2018, after months of investigation, Columbus police publicly identified a suspect. They issued an arrest warrant for 27-year-old Jermaine Johnson, charging him with the murder of Marshaun Clark. Despite the warrant, Johnson remained at large for a period of time before eventually being arrested and jailed. He would spend the next three years in jail awaiting trial for Marshaun’s murder.

The case took a significant turn in 2021. After the long wait for his day in court, Jermaine Johnson was acquitted of the murder charge in connection with Marshaun Clark's death. Following the verdict, he was released from custody. The legal proceedings concluded without a conviction, leaving the question of who was responsible for the shooting officially unanswered.

Years later, Jermaine Johnson’s name would reappear in connection with another violent crime. In March 2023, a new murder warrant was issued for him, this time accusing him in the November 2022 shooting death of 31-year-old Anthony Elmore in Columbus. Johnson was arrested and taken into custody on these new charges.

In the wake of his death, Marshaun's family and friends gathered to mourn their loss. His funeral service was held on July 6, 2017, at the Marlan J. Gary Funeral Home. In online memorials, friends remembered his infectious laugh and cherished their memories with him. One friend wrote, "Thinking about you always Lil bro fly high." Another person, who knew him as a client, called him "the best barber I ever met."

As of 2023, the homicide of Marshaun D. Clark remains unsolved. With the acquittal of the only person ever charged in his killing, the investigation is open but inactive. No new suspects have been identified, and no further arrests have been made. Justice for Marshaun and his family has yet to be found.