Man sentenced to 38 years for drive-by shooting in Columbus park

COLUMBUS, Ind. (WISH) — One of two men connected to a drive-by shooting in May 2023 in a Columbus park was sentenced Thursday to 38 years in prison, the Bartholomew County prosecutor said.

Court papers identified two of the four people shot: Gavin Hardin, who was 18, and Tyler Hamm, who was 23. The two others injured were juveniles, ages 16 and 17.

Edmarius Malik Oats, 21, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to four mid-level felony counts of aggravated battery, and had a charge of attempted murder dismissed, online court records show. Judge Jim Worton of Bartholomew Superior Court 1 sentenced Oats.

Investigators said the May 23, 2023, shooting at the Lincoln Park basketball court sent four people to a hospital. The shooting started because of a fight over a girl, as News 8 previously reported.

Oats and Alexander I. Parker, also of Columbus, were charged in the shooting. Both were 18 years old at the time of the shooting.

Parker faces four mid-level felony charges of aggravated battery and a low-level felony count of assisting a criminal in the same court. He has a plea deal pending, with his sentencing set for Sept. 10.

Witnesses told investigators on the scene that a gray or silver car pulled up beside the basketball court, and Oats rolled down a back window and started shooting into a crowd of people on the court. Parker was said to be driving.

According to court documents, detectives discovered that while Hardin was at the basketball court, another person at the court called Oats over Instagram and invited him to play basketball. When Oats learned Hardin was at the court, Oats exchanged words with him on the call and threatened to shoot Hardin. The shooting happened about a half-hour later.

The prosecutor emphasized that the attack was premeditated and driven by anger and ego.

Statement

“Today’s sentence sends a clear message: reckless acts of violence will not be tolerated in our community. The defendant carried out a drive-by shooting at a public park, turning a place where young people play basketball into a war zone. He deliberately opened fire from a moving vehicle striking four victims and leaving lasting scars on them, their loved ones and this community. This was not a momentary lapse in judgment—it was a calculated and cowardly attack fueled by anger and ego. By removing him from our streets for decades, the court has ensured that our community is safer and that the victims and their families can begin to heal knowing justice has been served.

“The Prosecutor’s Office commends the swift and thorough work of the Columbus Police Department, the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, and all investigators who worked tirelessly on this case. Their commitment, along with the cooperation of witnesses and community members, was instrumental in securing this conviction and ensuring accountability for such a senseless act of violence.

“The Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office is dedicated to pursuing justice, protecting public safety, and serving victims of crime with integrity and compassion. Through collaboration with law enforcement and the community, the office works to hold offenders accountable and maintain a safe community for all Bartholomew County residents.”

Bartholomew County Prosecutor Lindsey Holden-Kay, a Republican

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