Pickerington Man Charged with Murder in Fatal Shooting

March 15, 2024
By Rachel Scofield

On March 7 at 3:43 a.m., 22-year-old Miriah Brown called 9-1-1 after her brother, 19-year-old Samuel Stallworth, allegedly shot her friend and fled the scene.

Pickerington Police officers rushed to Brown’s home on Montmorency Drive in Cherry Hill, where they found 23-year-old Kamal Walters of Columbus lying on a blood-soaked bed in the basement. Despite suffering multiple gunshot wounds to his head and torso, Walters was reportedly still breathing.

Officers immediately rendered aid until Violet Township medics arrived moments later and took over. The medics transported Walters to Mount Carmel East, where he was later pronounced dead.

“While some officers went straight to the scene, others immediately began looking for the suspect vehicle,” said Pickerington Police Chief Tod Cheney. “They located it within minutes and were able to take the suspect into custody without incident. They acted quickly and professionally, just as they are trained.”

Patrol officers stopped Stallworth’s Dodge Avenger on Hill Road and discovered two handguns under the driver’s seat.

Suspect’s Mother Claims He Was in “Psychosis”

At the crime scene, Jillian Brown, the mother of Miriah Brown and Samuel Stallworth, had just arrived home. She allegedly told officers multiple times that her son was “in psychosis and had not been in his right mind.”

Meanwhile, Miriah Brown and her 29-year-old friend, Ashle Slaughter, were brought to the police station for questioning. The two women told investigators that the night before, they had gone to a casino with Walters. As the night wore on, they decided to return to Miriah’s home in Pickerington.

The three had just laid down in the basement bed when Stallworth allegedly burst into the room to confront them about an unknown incident from the previous day. Unsatisfied with their response, Stallworth allegedly went upstairs—only to return shortly after with a handgun.

According to the women, Stallworth yanked the blankets off the bed and held Walters at gunpoint. He then fired multiple rounds into Walters’ chest and head before fleeing the scene.

Police Chief: “We Will Hold Those Responsible”

Chief Cheney acknowledged that while the individuals involved knew each other, there is always a concern for bystanders when shots are fired in a neighborhood. However, he reassured the public that homicides rarely occur in Pickerington.

“When there is an unfortunate incident such as this, our officers and department will remain vigilant and will react quickly and professionally to hold those who commit these acts responsible,” Cheney said.

Charges and Bond

Stallworth has been charged with: