Suspect in fatal shooting near elementary school receives $1 million bond

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A suspect who evaded capture for over two days after a deadly shooting near an elementary school was arrested Tuesday and faces a murder charge.

According to court documents, 23-year-old Nicko Matthews-Cooper was arrested Tuesday in connection to the murder of 21-yaer-old Kaelan Amerson. The two, along with two others, were allegedly involved in a drug deal near Licking Heights West Elementary School in Jefferson Township, just after 2 a.m. Sunday.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said that after a drug transaction, Matthews-Cooper pulled out a gun and tried to rob Amerson, demanding the three victims exit the vehicle. He began shooting at the vehicle Amerson and two others were sitting in.

Amerson was struck multiple times in the upper body and he reportedly attempted to drive away but lost control of the vehicle, which came to a stop in the front yard of a home on Narrow Leaf Drive.

Medics at the scene took Amerson to an area hospital in critical condition, but he was pronounced dead a short time later. The two passengers were also shot but suffered minor injuries.

Matthews-Cooper fled the scene and eluded authorities until Tuesday, when he was arrested in Grove City. He appeared before a Franklin County Municipal Court judge on Wednesday morning and received a $1 million bond.