A Franklin County judge acquitted a man who fatally shot another man in December 2024 after an argument over auto parts escalated.
Common Pleas Judge Mark Serrott found Austin Hagemann, 26, not guilty of murder, felonious assault and other charges in connection with the Dec. 19, 2024, shooting death of 38-year-old Jack Hamilton.
Serrott found Hagemann acted in self-defense, court records say.
Around 3:30 p.m. Dec. 19, 2024, Madison Township police and Franklin County Sheriff's deputies responded to the 3000 block of Noe Bixby Road after Hamilton was shot.
Hagemann had gone to Hamilton's house to take back automobile parts he believed
Hamilton owed him, the sheriff's office said. The two men got into an argument that escalated.
When Hagemann tried to leave in a vehicle, Hamilton jumped onto the running board and began punching him, the sheriff's office said. Hamilton stayed on the running board as Hagemann continued backing out of the driveway and onto Noe Bixby Road.
Hagemann shot Hamilton one time in the chest. Hamilton died a short time later at Mount Carmel East Hospital.
Detectives investigated the case for nearly a year before the Franklin County Prosecutor's office presented it to a grand jury, which chose to indict Hagemann in November.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Shooting during fight on Noe-Bixby Road was self-defense, judge says
