Columbus Teen Charged in Gunpoint Robbery Near Gay-High

Columbus police charged 18-year-old Kevontay Perry with aggravated robbery following a gunpoint attempted robbery just after 7 p.m. Saturday near the bustling intersection of High and Gay streets in the heart of downtown.[2] Court records detail how Perry and three accomplices surrounded the victim, with one brandishing a gun and ordering him to the ground while demanding his bag; the victim refused, called 911 and the group fled toward Columbus police headquarters.[2] Surveillance footage from the Columbus Police Crime Center captured Perry stashing the weapon in another teen's backpack as they ran.[2] Several suspects were detained by investigators, who probed a second scene near the Broad Street Bridge, though charges beyond Perry's remain unclear.[1][4] The incident heightened alerts in the entertainment district, a hotspot for nightlife near landmarks like the Ohio Theatre and Nationwide Arena.[1][2] Police confirmed no injuries in the robbery itself and urged tips to detectives.[2][4] Tragedy struck nearby the same evening when 22-year-old Damon Thompson was fatally shot in a suspected robbery, dying shortly after hospital transport; a second victim survived.[3][6] Authorities detained multiple people in that case and stated they are not seeking additional suspects, though it's unclear if it directly links to the Gay-High attempt.[3] The cluster of violence underscores ongoing concerns in Columbus' core, where foot traffic peaks on weekends.