Police seek suspects in Near East Side slaying

Patrick Charles Bickham was walking to the convenience store when he was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon.

“Please, hurry up. Please, please, please,” a woman identified only as Bickham’s wife told a 911 dispatcher as she choked back tears. “You’re going to be OK, baby.”

Over the call she can be heard asking for a towel to put pressure on the gunshot wound in his chest. Bickham was shot while they were walking in the 500 block of St. Clair Avenue at 3:31 p.m. Wednesday near Alcastle convenience store.

By the end of the call, Bickham wasn’t breathing, his wife told the dispatcher. He was taken to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 3:53 p.m.

Police said Bickham, 27, and another man exchanged gunfire during the shooting. As of Thursday morning, detectives had not identified any suspects or motive.

Police were looking for an older model Chevy Impala which might have bullet holes in the driver’s side and the driver’s side window might be shot out. The front license plate on the car was missing and the back tag might be temporary.

Bickham’s death marks the 22nd homicide of the year. There were 21 homicides at the same time last year when a record-breaking number of homicides were set with 143 deaths.

Anyone with information is asked to call Columbus police at 614-645-4730 or remain anonymous by calling Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS(8477).