Franklinton resident's death being investigated as a homicide

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Franklinton restaurant is honoring the life of a beloved team member who died last week.

Steph's Way opened its doors last November. Stephvon Covington and Robyn Daughtry, the co-owners of the restaurant, had been running the restaurant themselves. Then, they brought Justin Dahlin on a few months ago.

“He fit in our little duo here and it just became a trio and he was such a hard worker, I’ve never seen anybody be so persistent with that much dedication," Daughtry said.

Daughty and Covington said Dahlin did everything around the place, even making them smile through stressful times. He always gave them fist bumps and earned the nickname "Ballin' Dahlin" for his love of basketball.

“He was just always so positive, always laughing, always smiling, even when we go through our things, we’re stressed out, we’re not in the best mood, he would find a way to make us laugh or make us turn our day around just from him being the way he was," Covington said.

But it's been a difficult few days at the restaurant. Dahlin was found dead in his home last Friday. The Columbus Division of Police is investigating the death as a homicide.

“We just want justice for Justin," Covington said. "At the end of the day he didn't deserve this at all. Nobody deserves it but he definitely didn't deserve this. He was the sweetest person ever and I feel like there was nothing he could have done that warranted what he received."

Dahlin had not even been in Columbus a year. He's from Colorado and Daughtry said he was trying to make central Ohio his home. She and Covington are working to help his family in Colorado.

“We just want to make sure we can get that justice for him at the end of the day because he deserves it, his family deserves it, and at least everybody can start to heal eventually because right now it's just, it is very heartbreaking," Daughtry said.

A spokesperson for CPD told NBC4 investigators did not have any updates to share about the case. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 614-645-4196 or Central Ohio Crimestoppers at 614-461-8477.