After a fatal shooting at a gym in Columbus following a pickup basketball game, a man named Tae’Von Bush was found guilty of murder by a Franklin County jury. The victim, 23-year-old Tabias Cunningham, was shot by Bush after a game on March 28, 2023. Despite Bush’s claims of self-defense, the jury deliberated for 90 minutes before convicting him of two counts of murder for purposefully killing Cunningham and killing him during a felonious assault. Bush was acquitted of aggravated murder but was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for at least 23 years by Judge Mark Serrott.
During the trial, Bush testified that Cunningham had made verbal threats towards him during the basketball games leading up to the shooting. Despite the initial confrontation, the two men continued playing in subsequent games before the fatal incident. Prosecutors highlighted that Bush stayed at the gym for over 30 minutes and had a gun in his possession before approaching Cunningham and firing the fatal shots. Evidence showed that Cunningham was struck twice in the back and died shortly after being transported to the hospital.
After the shooting, Bush fled the scene with other gym attendees, but he was later identified by eyewitnesses. His attorney argued that Bush was acting out of fear and had no choice but to shoot Cunningham, given the threat he perceived. Despite pleading guilty to carrying a concealed weapon and another gun-related charge before the trial, Bush claimed he was not at the gym to harm anyone but to play basketball. Ultimately, the jury found his actions to be unjustified and convicted him of murder.
In the sentencing, Judge Serrott criticized Bush’s actions as not being self-defense and noted that there was no justification for using lethal force in this situation. He emphasized the seriousness of the consequences, handing down a life sentence without parole for at least 23 years. The emotional impact of the trial was evident as the mothers of both Bush and Cunningham were seen with tears in their eyes, showing the devastating effects of gun violence on families and communities.
The prosecution underscored the prevalence of gun violence in the city and argued that Bush’s decision to escalate a verbal altercation into a lethal confrontation was a part of this larger problem. Despite attempts by Bush’s attorney to portray him as a victim of circumstances, the jury sided with the prosecution’s argument that the shooting was an unnecessary and tragic outcome of a simple dispute. The case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of resorting to violence in situations that could be resolved peacefully, highlighting the need for de-escalation and conflict resolution techniques in communities.
