Two Columbus men were charged with attempted murder in connection with a drive-by shooting in Newark that led to a high-speed chase.
Javaier P. Morrison, 20, and Cornelius N. Brown, 22, face attempted murder charges and firearm specifications in Licking County Common Pleas Court, records show.
In a complaint, police say they saw a person fire several rounds from a gun on June 6 while in a vehicle near 4th and Locust Street in Newark. Police began pursuing the vehicle, which traveled more than 100 miles per hour on State Route 79 toward Heath and weaved in and out of traffic, the complaint states.
Police removed Morrison and Brown from the vehicle and arrested them after it crashed around Enterprise Drive, later taking them to a hospital, according to the complaint. Police allege they found a gun near the crash.
Police say Morrison admitted in an interview to driving the car and that Brown was in the backseat, the complaint states. They also tried to interview Brown, but police allege he appeared to be intoxicated or suffering from a medical issue.
Detectives analyzed the scene where the shooting took place and said they found bullet casings near a car and more than a dozen bullet holes in the driver side door. The driver of that car suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and first responders took them to OSU Wexner Medical Center, the complaint states.
There was another person in that car but they were not shot, according to the complaint.
Franklin County grand juries indicted Morrison and Brown in 2025 and 2026, respectively, on aggravated robbery charges in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, records show. The cases remain active as both pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Deputies booked Morrison and Brown into the Licking County jail June 7 and they both remained there as of June 8 as they await their first bond hearing.
Advocate reporter Josué Perez can be reached at jhperez@newarkadvocate.com.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Columbus men charged with attempted murder after drive-by, chase in Newark
Reporting by Josué Perez, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
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By Josué Perez, Newark Advocate | USA TODAY Network
