Call Detail Record warrant leads to second arrest in 2024 Columbus homicide
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A second arrest has been made in connection with a southeast Columbus homicide that occurred 10 months ago.
According to a Columbus Division of Police media release, a months-long investigation resulted in a second arrest in the fatal shooting of Larry Yantis III, who was gunned down in the Deshler Park neighborhood.
Police initially reported that officers responded to the 1400 block of Burstock Road, where Yantis was found lying on the ground in the street outside of a car, while a second victim was found shot inside the vehicle. Yantis was declared dead at the scene and the second victim was hospitalized in critical condition.
A second vehicle was also discovered on the street and police believe there were as many as four suspects. The hospitalized victim gave officers his phone, which showed that the last person he texted was Deaire Summerall. Summerall was arrested one day after the shooting, charged with murder, and was issued a $1 million bond in municipal court.
Additional examination Summerall’s cell phone revealed that a text he sent to an unknown number read, “Bubba I need phone and thing gone, Tmr.” Detectives identified the recipient of that text to be Montana Smallwood.
CPD detectives obtained a CDR search warrant return from Verizon and found that Smallwood’s phone to be in the vicinity and at the time of the shooting. Further communication between Summerall and Smallwood showed knowledge of the robbery and homicide.
An arrest warrant was issued Wednesday for Smallwood, who is now in Franklin County Jail on a charge of murder. On Friday a Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued him a $750,000 bond and scheduled a preliminary hearing for July 25.
Police ask that anyone with additional information regarding this incident to call Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).