Franklin County man sentenced to at least 46 years in prison for his role in 2021 murders

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Jaiza Page recently sentenced Datwain Crudup to life in prison with eligibility for parole in 46 years for his role in the murders of two victims and the attempted murder of a third victim.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Leigh Bayer and Corinne Buker prosecuted the case for the prosecutor’s office.

On Aug. 20, a jury convicted Crudup, 29, of Columbus, on seven total charges, including four counts of murder, each with a 54-month firearm specification, one count of attempted murder with a 54-month firearm specification, felonious assault with a 54-month firearm specification and having a weapon under a disability with a 54-month firearm specification.

It is alleged that on April 3, 2021, the victims were gathered outside an apartment complex on Eaton Avenue in Columbus. Crudup and an unidentified co-conspirator ambushed the victims, shooting and killing two of them and wounding a third. Two of the victims were brothers.

Crudup fled shortly after the shooting to California before his arrest on Dec. 21, 2021. He was on parole at the time of the murders.

The investigative work of Columbus Division of Police detectives Robert Shepherd and Derek Corbin helped the prosecutor’s office secure the conviction.

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