Public Safety

Suspect charged with murder in Columbus double shooting that killed one woman

Columbus • November 5, 2026 • By Press Pass USA

Editorial illustration: people seen from behind walking up the steps of a county courthouse in Columbus on a grey autumn morning, an American flag flying beside the entrance

Editorial illustration — Press Pass USA

Columbus police have identified the woman killed and the man charged in a double shooting Wednesday morning on the city's Near East Side, saying the shooting grew out of a domestic dispute.

Officers responded at about 7:37 a.m. Nov. 4 to the 800 block of Gibbard Avenue in the Milo-Grogan neighborhood on a report that two women had been shot. Police found the two victims, both struck by shotgun rounds, and Columbus Division of Fire medics took them in critical condition to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, Downtown.

Indya Dickerson, 25, was pronounced dead at the hospital at 8:25 a.m., police said. The second woman, whom The Columbus Dispatch is not identifying, is expected to survive, police said.

Christian Houchins, 34, who lives in the Marion-Franklin neighborhood, has been arrested and charged with one count of murder and one count of felonious assault in the double shooting, police said. According to a criminal complaint, witnesses identified the shooter as a man named Chris who goes by the nickname "Uno" and who fled the area in a black vehicle. Detectives later determined the suspect was Houchins, who turned himself in to Columbus police in the 400 block of North Champion Avenue in the city's Mount Vernon neighborhood.

Police said in a media release that the shooting was the result of a domestic dispute between Dickerson and Houchins.

Franklin County Municipal Court records show Houchins was charged in June with one misdemeanor count each of domestic violence and assault for a prior incident at the Gibbard Avenue address. He initially was held with no bond and pleaded not guilty. He eventually was released on bond with conditions, including that he stay away from the victim and the Gibbard Avenue address and that he not consume alcohol or drugs, records show. When Houchins failed to appear for a scheduled hearing Oct. 5 in his case, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was arrested Nov. 4 following the shooting. He was being held in the James A. Karnes Franklin County Corrections Center and was scheduled for arraignment Nov. 5.

Columbus police detectives continue to investigate. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Columbus Division of Police Homicide Section at 614-645-4221 or the lead detective at [email protected]. People wishing to remain anonymous may contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS.

Sources: The Columbus Dispatch, "Suspect, dead victim identified in Columbus domestic violence shootings" (Nov. 4, 2026); WSYX/ABC6, "Records: Columbus homicide suspect had active bench warrant when two women were shot" (Nov. 4, 2026).