Man slain on South Side may have known his killer

The family and friends of Calvin Jimerson stood in stunned grief Tuesday afternoon outside the yellow tape that closed part of East Kossuth Street on the South Side.

Inside the large, twostory frame house in the 1300 block of East Kossuth, Jimerson, 49, had been shot to death. He was identified as the victim by his family.

His teenage niece found the dying Jimerson inside the house, said Inithe Robinson, Jimerson’s sister.

The girl called Columbus police about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to say her uncle had been shot in the chest, according to police.

Columbus Fire paramedics tried to revive him but he was pronounced dead at 4:45 p.m.

At least a half- dozen Columbus police detectives were poring over the house and fanning out in the neighborhood between Ellsworth and Miller avenues.

Sgt. Stan Latta, supervisor of the Columbus police second- shift homicide squad, said it didn’t appear as if anyone had forced their way into the house, so it might be that the victim knew his assailant. Family members also believe that Jimerson knew his attacker.

Robinson burned with anger over the death of her brother, who was known by the nickname “Hercules.” She said three daughters are among his survivors.

“He was just a big teddy bear. He didn’t deserve this,” Robinson said. “He would give you the shirt off his back.”