Man faces up to 14 years in prison after Polaris mall shooting
A Columbus man faces a possible sentence of two to 11 years in prison plus an additional three-year mandatory sentence for firearm possession following his conviction for his part in a shootout with another man in March at Polaris Fashion Place.
Levon Sommerville, 26, of the Northeast Side, was found guilty Friday of felonious assault, felonious assault with a gun specification, inducing panic, and having a weapon under disability as a previously convicted felon after a twoday bench trial in Delaware County Common Pleas Court. Polaris is an annexed part of Columbus, but is located in Delaware County.
Columbus police said the shooting occurred March 3 between Sommerville and 22-year-old Anthony Truss, of the East Side, and was the result of a domestic dispute.
The shootout occurred around 12:30 p.m. inside the Carter’s/osh Kosh B’gosh store in Polaris, police said.
Somerville was convicted of firing at Truss at close range inside the store before departing. Police said Truss then followed Sommerville out into the mall and fired at Sommerville as he walked away.
No one was struck by gunfire or otherwise injured in the shooting. Columbus police, Delaware County Sheriff’s deputies and other area law enforcement agencies responded as people fled the mall. Some who hunkered down in stores were later evacuated by police going through and clearing the mall.
“Because of the fearless and swift actions of law enforcement, no one was hurt, but this doesn’t excuse the lawless actions of Mr. Sommerville. Bottom line, if you illegally possess a gun in Delaware County and endanger the lives of citizens, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Delaware County Prosecutor Melissa Schiffel said in a prepared statement.
Both men fled to Georgia after the incident.
Sommerville was arrested on April 12 in Tucker, Ga., about 20 miles northeast of Atlanta. His sentencing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 18.
Truss was arrested in April in Covington, Ga. in April and is facing charges of felonious assault with a gun specification, inducing panic, and other counts. He is being held in the Delaware County jail and his case is currently scheduled to go to trial in November, according to records.
The shooting incident was the first of two at Polaris only 12 days apart in March. Around 3:15 p.m. on March 15, multiple shots were reported to have been fired by at least one person after a confrontation between two groups of young people escalated, said Sgt. James Fuqua, Columbus police spokesman.
Fuqua said the confrontation and gunfire occurred in a rotunda or atrium area on the first floor of the shopping center. Again, no injuries were reported as people fled the area or hunkered in stores and were later evacuated by police.
Arshad Jamir Lawson, 20, of the East Side, was later arrested and charged with attempted murder, felonious assault, inducing panic and for being a previously convicted felon having a weapon as a felonelonious assault and other charges in connection with the shooting. He is being held in the Delaware County jail awaiting trial. bharvilla@dispatch.com @Beth_harvilla