911 caller tries to calm wounded man

A woman stayed with Alonzo M. Edwards in a Hilltop alley as he groaned from at least one gunshot wound to his abdomen.

While on the phone with 911 about 5:40 p.m. Monday, the woman spoke soothing words to him: “Stay with me. Stay with me. Stay with me. Help is on the way.”

The groaning stopped, and medics arrived. Edwards, 26, was taken to Mount Carmel West hospital, where he died just before 11 p.m. Monday. He was the city’s 41st homicide victim of the year.

Witnesses told police they watched Edwards stagger through an alley and collapse near the rear of a residence in the 100 block of Belvidere Avenue near Floral Avenue.

There were reports of an argument leading up to about six gunshots. Witnesses told police that a burgundy or red van was seen driving away toward West Broad Street.

About a quarter of the city’s 2017 homicide victims have died in the Hilltop neighborhood.

About 20 minutes after Edwards was shot, a man was shot at the Moors at Countryview apartment complex on the city’s Southeast Side.

Jeannot Mendy, 32, was working on a motorcycle in a garage on Lowridge Drive when two young men walked up. One fired at least one shot. Both then ran toward the complex entrance on Brice Road.

Mendy was taken to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, where he died less than two hours later.

On Tuesday afternoon, about half a dozen friends stood outside and watched police officers guard the garage. Mendy was from western Africa and had lived in the apartment complex for years.

Columbus police are following up on leads in both cases. Anyone with information is asked to call the homicide unit at 614-645-4730.