Grandfather dies after cane assault in Columbus Applebee’s parking lot

On December 1, Columbus Police arrived on the scene at an Applebee’s located at 2755 Brice Rd. in Columbus. There, around 12:15 p.m., they found 66-year-old Jesse Whistler suffering from a head injury.

According to Franklin County Municipal Court records, Jesse Whistler and his wife Cheryl were confronted by 27-year-old Ja’Quawn Bridgmon in the restaurant’s parking lot. Bridgmon turned his car around and got out of the car to approach the couple. 

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Cheryl Whistler’s court statement said Bridgmon said he was going to “teach an old man a lesson,” then slapped her in the face and hit across the head with a cane. He then shoved Jesse Whistler, resulting in him falling and hitting his head on the pavement, said Cheryl.

Cheryl was able to capture Bridgmon’s license plate, and police used FLOCK cameras to see that he was indeed in the area during the time of the incident. According to records, Bridgmon allegedly admitted to being involved in the incident. 

Jesse Whistler, a father of five, a grandfather of 13, a great-grandfather of seven, succumbed to his injuries on December 5.

A Franklin County grand jury indicted Bridgmon on one count of murder and one count of assault this week.

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