Ghanaian man shoots wife in attempted murder-suicide in Columbus, police say

The Columbus Division of Police is investigating a shooting that left one man dead and a woman critically injured. The man, 49-year-old Kwabena Michael Amoako, allegedly shot the woman before shooting himself after what police said started as a domestic violence incident.

The woman, 50, was taken to Riverside Methodist Hospital in life-threatening condition. The police said they were called to the 4800 block of Glendon Road, just north of Morse Road, around 10:35 p.m. to investigate a domestic violent complaint. 

Upon arrival, they found Amoako and the woman suffering from gunshot wounds. Medics pronounced Amoako dead at the scene at 11:05 p.m. “They were nice, never had any problems with them,” next-door neighbor Michael Montgomery said of the couple. Montgomery said he got to know about the shooting after the couple’s three sons knocked on his door.

“The 16-year-old said they were arguing, they heard two bangs, ran out the door and came over here. They heard the shooting and dad wouldn’t let them back in the house, so they came knocking on the door.”

Amoako and his wife, who were almost always involved in activities by the Ghana community in Columbus, have lived in their home for almost 10 years, according to Montgomery. 

Domestic violence-related homicides make up 20% of all homicides in the city of Columbus so far this year, the Columbus Division of Police said last month. Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has been calling for new gun laws.

“If we had red flag laws in place, those folks who have been targeted by abusers could have sought out help,” he said. “Could they have stopped every one of these domestic violence homicides? Probably not. If it made a difference for one family, it is worth that fight.”