Columbus fugitive wanted for murder arrested in Sandusky by U.S. Marshals

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man wanted in connection to a fatal shooting in southeast Columbus was found three weeks later near Lake Erie, as one of three arrests of fugitives made by U.S. Marshals on Wednesday.

According to Columbus police, the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force made arrests in two separate cases, including one involving a shooting that took place outside a Sunoco gas station on Noe Bixby Road.

On Aug. 8, officers responded to the gas station near the Refugee Road intersection and found 28-year-old Michael Simmons suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Simmons was pronounced dead at 7:22 p.m.

At the time of the shooting, police did not have any suspect information, but an investigation revealed that Simmons and 18-year-old Isaiah Wharton-Howard had an altercation before Wharton-Howard shot and killed Simmons.

The U.S. Marshals Service said Wharton-Howard, who was wanted for murder, was found and arrested Wednesday in the 1400 block of Campbell Street in Sandusky, approximately 120 miles north of Columbus, where he was reportedly hiding with friends. He will have an arraignment hearing scheduled once returned to Franklin County.

Deputies also arrested Santiago Ogando and Juan Carlos Rivera, both 24, who were found at a hotel on Corporate Woods Parkway in Uniontown, Ohio, just south of Akron. Both are facing charges of attempted murder and felonious assault after allegedly being involved in a shooting near an autobody shop in the 4000 block of West Broad Street in Franklin Township.

Ogando and Rivera and are being held at the Summit County Jail, awaiting extradition back to Franklin County. Ogando may face additional charges as he is an undocumented non-citizen, according to the U.S. Marshals release.