One person died and a second victim was located following a Monday afternoon shooting in the 2200 block of Albert Avenue in Columbus, Ohio. Police and federal authorities confirmed the gunfire occurred near the Alrahma Mosque during a funeral, but emphasized the house of worship was not targeted.
Gunfire Erupts Near Albert Avenue Mosque During Afternoon Funeral
Emergency dispatchers received multiple calls reporting gunfire on October 19, 2026, just after 2 p.m. local time in northeast Columbus, according to police public relations specialist Nicole Jaros. Officers with the Columbus Division of Police arrived at the scene along Albert Avenue, an area featuring a cluster of two-story apartment buildings situated near the Alrahma Mosque.
UPDATE:Here is our latest statement:Preliminary information indicates that funeral attendees had exited the Alrahma Mosque, located at 2226 Albert Avenue in Columbus, Ohio, when shots were reportedly fired by an undetermined number of individuals.One individual has been… pic.twitter.com/pXhn6Zw4J1
— https://x.com/ATFColumbus/status/2112280087215153632
One individual was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:19 p.m. from an apparent gunshot wound. Authorities subsequently located a second victim, though officials did not immediately release details regarding that person’s medical condition or identity.
The incident drew a massive emergency response from both local police and federal personnel. Special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives mobilized to the neighborhood, initially noting on social media that they were responding to a reported shooting incident directly at the mosque.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives office in Columbus noted that preliminary information indicated funeral attendees had exited the mosque when shots were reportedly fired. An ATF spokesperson added that preliminary details suggested individuals were leaving a funeral event at the mosque when the violence unfolded. Federal agents deployed to assist Columbus police officers with the active investigation, while a large section of Albert Avenue remained closed off with police tape.
Police Clarify Dispute Originated in Adjacent Apartment Parking Lot
Investigators quickly worked to distinguish the afternoon violence from concurrent religious services as mourners exited the building following a funeral service. Police stated that the fatal altercation unfolded entirely outside the facility.
We want to make it clear this was not an attack on the mosque.
Sergeant James Fuqua, Columbus Division of Police
According to Columbus police Sgt. James Fuqua, investigators determined the gunfire stemmed from a dispute involving several people gathered in the parking lot of an apartment complex immediately adjacent to the religious site. Fuqua stressed that an event was underway inside the mosque that had no connection to the external violence.
During a briefing held near the scene, Sergeant Fuqua detailed that officers responded to the area of 2226 Albert Avenue shortly after 2 p.m. Police pointed out that the dispute involved multiple individuals at the apartment complex and an exchange of gunfire outside. Authorities reiterated that there was no specific threat directed toward the mosque, emphasizing that investigators found no reason to believe the violence was targeted against the religious facility or its congregation.
Witnesses Describe Surreal Scene Along Albert Avenue
Neighborhood residents and bystanders reacted with shock as officers cordoned off a large section of Albert Avenue with yellow crime scene tape. Witnesses observed chaotic movement around the apartment complex as emergency vehicles crowded the neighborhood.
All the people that live in these apartments over here, they’re running away from the scene.
Anonymous witness, speaking to WBNS
The witness, who was dropping his car off at a mechanic nearby when the gunfire broke out, added that some of them are actually trying to get into the scene because they might be related to whatever happened to the situation down there,
describing the atmosphere as definitely surreal.
As the investigation continued into the evening, police had not released suspect information or an age range for those involved, leaving key questions open regarding what triggered the initial apartment complex dispute. Neither the Columbus Division of Police, the ATF, neighborhood officials, nor representatives from the mosque immediately responded to phone messages seeking further information as the preliminary inquiry unfolded.