Ohio man sentenced to ten years for shooting weapon in parking lot

COLUMBUS — Davon L. Rayford, 28, of Columbus, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 120 months in federal prison for gun and drug crimes.

The charges stem from a February 2023 incident in which Rayford opened fire in the parking lot of a popular entertainment venue during an altercation.

The shooting occurred around 4:30 p.m. on a busy day at Topgolf near Polaris. According to court documents, Rayford, who was with a group, began arguing with others in his party.

The dispute escalated when Rayford retrieved a Glock 9mm pistol from his vehicle and fired several rounds at the group’s car before fleeing.

A special duty officer on site quickly collected shell casings, and Rayford’s actions were captured on the business’s surveillance footage.

The following day, Rayford was involved in a car accident. Responding officers found him intoxicated and attempting to leave the scene.

During his arrest, officers discovered methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and Xanax, as well as the Glock pistol and $5,000 in cash.

A crime lab later confirmed that the gun matched the one used in the Topgolf shooting.

Rayford was charged federally in June 2023 and pleaded guilty in May 2024 to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and to possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute.

Rayford’s federal sentence will run consecutively to his current state sentence, which is expected to end in August 2026.