Published on October 07, 2026
COLUMBUS—A Columbus man will spend at least two and a half decades in prison for killing another man at a bus stop in West Columbus. Joshua Bays, 46, pleaded guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter and Tampering with Evidence in the death of Thomas Smith, 56. Both counts included firearm specifications.
Yesterday, Judge Stephen McIntosh sentenced Bays to 25-30.5 years in prison. Bays also pleaded guilty to escape in a separate case and was given an additional 12 months consecutive to the shooting case.
Case Background
On August 14, 2025, at approximately 1:42 p.m., Columbus Police were dispatched to the area of W. Broad Street and Wisconsin Avenue on the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located the victim, identified as Thomas Smith, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Mr. Smith was taken to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead 3 days later as a result of the gunshot wound to the head.
Mr. Smith’s wife was present at the time of the shooting and was able to provide a first name and description of the suspect. Another witness observed the suspect flee the scene on his bicycle. Both witnesses were able to pick Joshua Bays out of photo arrays as the individual who shot Mr. Smith. Police later arrested Bays, and he admitted to shooting Mr. Smith and getting rid of the firearm he used.
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