The Columbus Division of Police is trying to dispel rumors that a serial killer is operating in the city.
Columbus Deputy Chief Smith Weir spoke at a press conference Tuesday to address questions about recent homicides on the city's south side. Smith immediately said a serial killer wasn't involved in either of the cases.
"We've been made aware that over the past several days, that there have been some rumors circulating on social media that some of the incidents are connected to a serial killer. I can tell you definitively that that is not the case," Weir said.
Weir said police are investigating whether a triple homicide on the city's south side Saturday on South Ohio Avenue and another homicide that happened last week on East Moler Street are connected. Three women were found shot Saturday inside a home in the 1300 block of South Ohio Avenue.
In a separate incident, on Dec. 10, police responded to a man who was shot and killed in the 700 block of East Moler Street. Police have arrested one suspect in that case, who authorities have identified as 39-year-old Haikiem R. Graham. He has been charged with one count of murder.
Weir said police are still looking for other suspects in both cases.
"We aren't saying how many people we think are involved, or we're not sure that we know exactly the number of people that are involved. We do believe that there are additional suspects out there and we are trying to identify them at this point," Weir said.
Weir asked anyone in the areas where the homicides happened who has cell phone or surveillance camera footage to contact police.
