ATF is offering cash reward for tips or information a year after triple homicide
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is offering a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information in a triple homicide in 2021 that claimed the lives of a 6-year-old girl and a 9-year-old boy, as well as a 22-year-old man.
More than a year after the homicide on Kodiak Drive, the ATF announced the reward on Tuesday. Last week, Columbus Det. Terry Kelley said he would not quit on the case.
Charles Wade, 22, and his girlfriend’s two children, Londynn, 6, and Demetrius Wall-neal, 9, were killed on Dec. 7, 2021, in an execution-style shooting while getting into a vehicle outside an apartment at the Winchester Lakes Apartments on the city’s Southeast Side.
Kelley said the suspects had watched the apartment for several hours in a 2010-2012 model year Nissan Altima and a 2010-2015 model year Jeep Cherokee, neither of which had license plates on them. Two shooters then approached the sedan that Wade, Londynn and Demetrius had gotten into.
The interior light of the vehicle was still on when dozens of rounds were fired into the vehicle, striking Wade and Demetrius more than a dozen times. Londynn was shot fewer times but also died from her injuries at the scene.
Kelley said he hoped the money would help the right people with information come forward but people should be incentivized to come forward just by watching the assassination, which was captured on security camera video.
“I don’t really care what the incentive is, I just want the information,” Kelley said. He added that he had received several tips since a press conference last week marking the one-year anniversary of the homicides.
John Nokes, assistant special agent in charge of the ATF’S Columbus field office, said the decision was made to offer the reward “given the heinousness of the crime” and after conversations with Columbus police leadership.
Nokes also said the federal government is able to offer some protections for witnesses or victims who come forward that local police aren’t able to provide.
Tips can be provided, even anonymously, to ATF by calling 1-888-ATFTIPS; emailing atftips@atf.gov; or going to www.atf.gov/atf-tips. The agency also offers the ability to provide tips through the Reportit application, which is available for Android and IOS devices. Kelley said tips can be provided anonymously to him as well and that will not impact the ability to receive a payout. Kelley can be reached through the homicide unit at 614-645-4730 or 614-554-5002. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner