COLUMBUS, Ohio – A man was sentenced to 10 to 13 years in prison for involuntary manslaughter in a fatal shooting that took place in February 2023. Nicholas Kesterson, 23, received his sentence in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in connection to the death of 21-year-old James Shearer.
On the morning of February 18, 2023, authorities responded to a report of a shooting on North Ninth Street. Shearer was found at the scene with a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead shortly after. Following the incident, a vehicle involved in the shooting crashed into parked cars and a fire hydrant on East 11th Avenue.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as Kesterson, attempted to flee but was ultimately arrested and charged with murder. An investigation by Columbus police suggested that the shooting stemmed from an argument between Kesterson and Shearer.
In court, Kesterson pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter with a three-year firearm specification, accepting responsibility for his role in Shearer’s death. The sentencing marked a final chapter in the tragic event that had unfolded in the early hours of that February day.
As Kesterson begins his prison term, the community continues to grapple with the loss of Shearer and the impact of gun violence. The incident serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of conflict and the need for peaceful resolutions in society.
Authorities hope that the judicial process and the sentencing of Kesterson bring some measure of closure to the family and friends of the victim. The case underscores the importance of accountability in cases of violence, as well as the challenges posed by gun-related crimes in communities across the country.