On July 17, 2026, a Franklin County jury found Joseph Howard, 22, guilty of aggravated murder, murder, attempted murder and felonious assault in connection with the Sept. 13, 2023, shooting deaths of Tavia Copley, 24, and Taya Mollette, also 24.
On Aug. 6, 2026, Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge Stephen McIntosh sentenced Howard to life in prison without the option of parole for at least 49 to 55½ years.
This story originally published on Sept. 25, 2023.
Police: Suspect in Double D's double fatal shooting arrested in Florida
The U.S. Marshals on Monday arrested a suspect accused of fatally shooting his sisterand another woman during a fight outside a Merion Village bar earlier this month.
Joseph Howard, 19, was arrested in Largo, Florida, the Marshals Service said in a statement.
Howard is facing a charge of murder
in connection with the Sept. 13 shooting.
According to Franklin County Municipal Court records, around 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 13, Howard, who lives on the Far South Side, was outside Double D's Pub at 1501 S. High St. in Merion Village when a fight broke out between Tavia Copley and Taya Mollette, both of whom were 24.
Howard, who is Mollette's brother, began shooting a handgun. The shots, according to court records, struck Copley, Mollette and a third person. Court records said Howard then shot Copley while she was lying on the ground. She died at the scene.
Mollette and the third person were taken to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center but Mollette was not able to survive her injuries.
Howard was charged with murder the next day but was unable to be located by police.
The U.S. Marshals Service obtained information Howard had fled to Florida and was arrested Monday without further incident. He is currently being held in the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office jail and will be extradited back to Ohio at a later date.
bbruner@dispatch.com
@bethany_bruner
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Man given life sentence for killing sister, friend at Merion Village bar
