Images: (Left) Joseph Howard (Franklin County Sheriff’s Office), (Center) Taya Mollette (Facebook), (Right) Tavia Copley (O.R. Woodyard Co. Funeral & Cremation Services). Background: Double D’s Bar located in Columbus, Ohio (Google Maps).
In a dramatic and tragic escalation, an Ohio man embroiled in a bar altercation tried to shield his sister but ended up turning the incident into a nightmare.
Twenty-two-year-old Joseph Howard faced the justice system in July, where he was convicted on serious charges including murder, aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, felonious assault, and evidence tampering. The conclusion of the trial saw Howard receive a life sentence on August 6, though he could be eligible for parole after 49 years. This verdict emerged nearly three years following a deadly shooting at a Columbus bar, prompted by Howard ordering 24-year-old Tavia Copley to back away from his sister, Taya Mollette, also 24, before firing his weapon.
Tragically, the confrontation resulted in both women succumbing to gunshot injuries, while Howard managed to evade immediate capture by fleeing to Florida.
According to the court’s documentation, Howard’s penalties were severe. He received a sentence of 30 years to life for the aggravated murder of Copley, 15 years to life for Mollette’s murder, and additional terms spanning 8 to 12 years for assaulting another individual named Brumfield. His punishment also included 5 to 7.5 years for aggravated robbery, 24 months for tampering with evidence, and an additional six years specifically added for firearm specifications.
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