GM of popular Columbus bar and restaurant killed; Restaurant group holds vigil, short-term closure

The well-liked general manager of a popular Columbus bar and restaurant has been identified as the victim of a University District shooting, and the city is coming together to mourn his passing.

According to Columbus Police, a fight broke out between two groups on the 1700 block of North High Street at 2:40 a.m. on April 21. During the incident, 25 year-old Deijon Bedgood (who was known as “Dee”), alongside a 27 year-old man who has not yet been identified by police, were shot. 

Bedgood, the general manager of Fourth Street Taproom & Kitchen, died just after 3 a.m. on April 21 at a nearby hospital, while the other victim survived. According to Columbus Police, 26 year-old Raymond Ladd was arrested and charged with murder following the shooting. A second suspect, Shear Franklin, is still at large.

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Following the incident, Fourth Street Taproom (alongside several other concepts owned by A&R Creative, the local restaurant group behind the eateries) posted multiple statements to its social media pages.

“This morning, the A&R family experienced an unexpected tragedy.Understanbly, we are all in shock as we try to navigate this difficult and uncertain time,” one of the statements posted to several A&R Collective concepts on April 21 reads.

Following Bedgood’s death, Fourth Street Taproom announced a temporary closure. It will reopen on April 25. Additionally, other A&R spots including Ethyl & Tank and Midway on High have since reopened after closing on April 21. The Fourth Street Taproom Spring Beer Fest, which was slated to take place on April 22, was postponed as well.

To honor the memory of Bedgood, a candlelight vigil was held in front of Fourth Street Taproom yesterday evening. The vigil included photos of Dee and played his favorite music.  A&R Creative took time to note the outpouring of love and support the business and fellow employees have received following Bedgood’s death.

A statement posted to several of its social media accounts on April 22 reads:

We want to take a moment to express our gratitude for the support and love you have shown us during this difficult time. As many of you know, our bar/restaurant recently suffered a tragedy, but we want to assure you that we are determined to move forward with resilience and positivity.

We refuse to let this incident define us or change the way we view humanity. Instead, we choose to focus on the good in people and the strength that comes from standing together as a community. 

We believe that normalcy is important, and we are committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all who visit us.

We want to thank you again for your unwavering support and for standing with us during this challenging time. Together, we will continue to thrive and build a brighter future for our community.

Want to read more? Check out our print publication, (614) Magazine. Learn where you can find a free copy of our new April issue here!

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