Reynoldsburg police, working with partners from Gahanna and Columbus, arrested three people this month in connection with a July 31 incident in which offenders broke into a vehicle and shot at a resident on Rosehill Road. Authorities say the group is believed responsible for hundreds of vehicle break-ins across Central Ohio in recent months.
According to a statement from the Reynoldsburg Division of Police, on July 31 a victim exited his rental home on Rosehill Road as his vehicle was being broken into. The offenders shot at the victim as they fled the scene. Detectives immediately accessed the department’s Flock camera system and identified the stolen vehicle used in the crime. Columbus police later recovered the abandoned vehicle. Offenders were identified after private security cameras recorded them using the same stolen vehicle in other crimes.
On August 6, Reynoldsburg detectives executed a search warrant in Columbus with assistance from the Gahanna Police Department and the Columbus Police Department. The warrant related to the July 31 incident and other vehicle break-ins reported throughout Central Ohio in recent weeks. Police said the offenders in these incidents stole vehicles, cash, firearms, and credit cards. In two of the incidents, the offenders shot at victims who witnessed the crimes.
Nine firearms, including one stolen from a Reynoldsburg victim, were recovered during the search. Three people were arrested and are believed responsible for hundreds of vehicle break-ins in recent months.
The Gahanna Division of Police identified those arrested as 19-year-old Cipher-Allah Adams-El and two juveniles, ages 14 and 17. All three face charges of aggravated robbery. Gahanna police noted that the 17-year-old had previously been charged in connection with an April 2025 vehicle break-in series on Andalus Drive that escalated to an exchange of gunfire with a homeowner. That earlier case was referred to the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Juvenile Division. Gahanna investigators are examining possible links to a separate series of vehicle break-ins last month in the city’s Rose Run and Hunters Ridge neighborhoods.
Court records indicate Adams-El is being held on multiple charges that include aggravated robbery and domestic violence, with a court appearance scheduled around mid-August. Local news outlets reported neighbor reactions near Rosehill Road describing the area as generally quiet and expressing concern about the violence while noting appreciation for interagency cooperation.
Police emphasize that vehicle break-ins have been an ongoing regional issue. The investigation remains active, and additional charges are possible as detectives continue to review connections across jurisdictions. Charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Residents are encouraged to lock vehicles, remove valuables, and report suspicious activity to local law enforcement.
