Columbus, OH – 17-Year-Old Ariyaun Burton Identified as Victim in Deadly North Columbus Shooting; Police Continue Search for Suspect
A north Columbus neighborhood is reeling after a tragic early morning shooting claimed the life of 17-year-old Ariyaun Burton, a young teen whose future was abruptly cut short in the quiet hours of Sunday, May 4, 2025. The Columbus Division of Police confirmed Burton’s identity following the incident, which unfolded shortly before 4:00 a.m. on Roche Place, near Sinclair Road.
According to authorities, officers were dispatched to the area after receiving a 911 call from a Lyft driver who reported that both he and his teenage passenger had been shot. The driver told dispatchers that after the shooting, he fled the immediate scene and drove to the Sheetz gas station in the 900 block of East Dublin-Granville Road in a desperate attempt to find help.
Emergency responders quickly met them at the gas station and immediately transported both victims to Riverside Methodist Hospital. Tragically, Burton succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The Lyft driver, whose name has not been released, survived the ordeal and is currently recovering from what police described as non-life-threatening injuries.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear. Investigators have not publicly identified a suspect or disclosed any possible motive, and there are still questions about whether the victims were targeted or if the incident was random. Police have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and that they are actively pursuing leads.
As detectives work to piece together the timeline of events, they are urging anyone who may have seen or heard anything in the area of Roche Place around the time of the shooting to come forward.
“We’re asking for the public’s help,” said a spokesperson from the Columbus Division of Police. “Any information, no matter how small it may seem, could help us bring justice to this young victim and her grieving family.”
Burton’s death has sent shockwaves through her community, with friends and relatives mourning the loss of a teenager described as kind, full of life, and deeply loved by those who knew her. Vigils and memorials are already being discussed by classmates and community members who wish to honor her memory and call for an end to the violence affecting Columbus youth.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Columbus Division of Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or to submit anonymous tips through Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).
This devastating shooting adds to a troubling trend of youth gun violence in the Columbus area and underscores the urgent need for community-wide solutions to prevent future tragedies like the one that took the life of Ariyaun Burton.