COLUMBUS, OHIO — Davon Rayford, 28, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison following a series of serious offenses, including a shooting in a crowded parking lot at a TopGolf venue. The sentencing, announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, is the culmination of Rayford’s lengthy criminal history.
The incidents date back to February 2023 when Rayford visited the TopGolf facility near Polaris with a group. After an altercation with his companions, he retrieved a Glock 9mm pistol from his car and opened fire at their vehicle, endangering multiple bystanders in the crowded parking lot. A special duty officer present at the scene collected shell casings, and Rayford was later identified through video surveillance footage.
The day following the shooting, Rayford was involved in a car crash while intoxicated. When police arrived, he attempted to flee the scene but was detained. Officers discovered methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, Xanax, the Glock pistol, and approximately $5,000 in cash in his vehicle.
Rayford was charged and arrested in June 2023 and subsequently pleaded guilty in 2024 to charges of drug possession with intent to distribute and gun possession in furtherance of drug trafficking.
His criminal history includes multiple traffic offenses in Ross County, such as driving under the influence and a hit-skip offense. Rayford was considered a fugitive from justice in June 2021 and was charged in May 2022 with aggravated drug possession and DUI. Notably, during an escape attempt from the Ross County courthouse, Rayford injured a sheriff’s deputy.
With his recent sentencing, Rayford will spend the next decade in prison, reflecting the serious nature of his crimes and the potential danger he posed to the community.