Man who was stabbed in Franklin County jail while waiting on murder trial sentenced

A formerly homeless man will spend at least the next 18 years behind bars after admitting to shooting a teen while they were together inside a car near Easton Town Center.

Tayeshawn Gavin, 20, whom court records reported was homeless at the time, pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault, according to Franklin County Common Pleas Court records.

Gavin was facing murder charges in connection with the March 11, 2022, shooting death of 18-year-old Chaz Fleming.

Judge Chris Brown ordered Gavin to serve a minimum of 18 years in prison and a maximum of 23½ years behind bars.

Around noon on March 11, 2022, Columbus police got a call about a person who was shot inside a car on the 2500 block of McCutcheon Road near Merwin Hill Drive. When officers arrived, they found Fleming with a gunshot wound. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene from his injuries.

A 20-year-old who was also in the car was struck in the hand by a bullet and took himself to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center for treatment. Three other teens in the car were not injured, police said.

Gavin had initially been charged initially with murder, attempted murder, felonious assault and improperly discharging a firearm over a street.

As part of a plea deal in the case, the murder, attempted murder and weapons discharge counts were dismissed by the Franklin County Prosecutor's office.

On March 20, Fleming's brother, Charles Fleming — who is currently being held in the Franklin County jail awaiting trial on unrelated murder charges of his own — reportedly stabbed Gavin multiple times in the head and neck with a shank.

The two had been supposed to be kept apart, but were inadvertently allowed in the same holding cell, according to records from the Franklin County Sheriff's office.

Charles Fleming is facing charges of attempted murder, felonious assault and possession of a deadly weapon while under detention for the alleged assault.

At his initial court appearance on the stabbing charges, Fleming's attorney said Fleming was the primary witness against Gavin and that Gavin had attempted to kill Fleming in the shooting that killed Chaz Fleming as well.

Charles Fleming is currently scheduled to go to trial next week, but the case may be continued.

bbruner@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Man who was stabbed in Franklin County jail while waiting on murder trial sentenced