Shawnee Police Investigate Deadly Shooting

A roar of engines and gunfire wake a neighborhood on the city's east side.

Tuesday, May 5th 2015, 5:58 pm

By: News 9


A roar of engines and gunfire wake a neighborhood on the city's east side.

The 911 calls made to police about all of the commotion led to a murder investigation near 10th and Pesotum, around 2 a.m. Monday. Since then, officers have been looking over evidence and talking with witnesses like Jaden Wilson.

"I was like, ‘Man, I got a bad feeling something is going to happen,'" Jaden Wilson says he is taking his premonitions more seriously.

Wilson says he had just told a friend about the hunch when he heard a gunshot from the alley behind his home.

"Oh man, my adrenaline was going," Wilson said he went to the back fence to see what was going on and noticed a car going more than 50 mph down the alley.

Wilson witnessed the driver swerve and crash into a tree. He then rushed to call 911.

When Shawnee Police arrived they say John Columbus, the driver, was slumped over in the passenger seat of the car with a gunshot wound. He died from the injuries.

"I kind of feel bad for him...but probably drug deal gone bad," Wilson said

Investigators confirmed Wilson's theory. According to court records, Columbus was trying to sell marijuana to someone in the area.

Witnesses were able to describe the suspect's vehicle, a white SUV, they saw circling the block after the shooting. Police tracked down that SUV a short time later, court records show Austin Olinger and Cody Taylor were driving with drugs and stolen guns in the vehicle.

Records indicate the two suspects claimed they did not have any knowledge of the shooting. However, both suspects were taken into custody after a search of the vehicle.

Investigators said a Kimber 9 mm was missing one round and matched the shell casing found at the scene of the crime.

Olinger and Taylor are being held in the Pottawatomie County Safety Center on multiple complaints including first murder, possession of stolen firearm, drugs, and drug paraphernalia.

Court records indicate Shawnee Police are trying to locate a possible third suspect.

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