Columbus Police Investigate Fatal Shooting Near Alrahma Mosque

A fatal shooting near Alrahma Mosque in northeast Columbus, Ohio, left 21-year-old Luqmaan Cusmaan dead and another person injured on Monday, October 19, 2026. Columbus police said the violence followed a dispute at a nearby apartment complex and was not an attack on the mosque or a funeral taking place inside.

Police received multiple calls about gunfire at 2:11 p.m. in the 2200 block of Albert Avenue, east of Westerville Road, according to reports from NBC4 and The Columbus Dispatch. Columbus Division of Fire medics pronounced one victim dead at the scene at 2:19 p.m., according to Fire Lt. Nick Davis.

The Columbus division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said preliminary information indicated that funeral attendees had left the mosque when individuals began firing shots. Authorities had not identified or arrested any suspects as of Tuesday morning, October 20.

Police said the shooting occurred outside the mosque during a funeral service inside the building. Investigators believe the incident may have originated from a confrontation at an apartment complex a short distance away.

Sgt. James Fuqua, a spokesman for the Columbus Division of Police, said the shooting involved two groups of people. He also noted that investigators could not immediately determine whether additional people had been injured because shooting victims sometimes travel to hospitals independently or with help from others.

Fuqua emphasized that the mosque itself was not the target and that the violence was unrelated to the funeral. The gunfire nevertheless caused concern among people inside the building.

Investigators were working to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and identify the people present in the area. Homicide detectives and crime scene technicians examined the scene, where evidence markers were placed near a vehicle to identify shell casings and other potential evidence.

Authorities initially withheld the victim's identity while officials worked to confirm it and notify family members. Police later identified the deceased as 21-year-old Luqmaan Cusmaan.

The investigation remained active, with no arrests announced in the available updates. Columbus police asked anyone with information to contact the department at (614) 645-4953, the Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730, or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-TIPS (8477).