Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office secures guilty pleas from two more defendants charged in the killing of Raquan Thomas

Posted on 8/6/2024

Defendant: Zacharias Mullen , Willie Mullen

The Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office secured guilty pleas Tuesday from Zacharias Mullen, 21, and his brother Willie Mullen, 23, for the killing of Raquan Thomas, 21, of Columbus, in May 2022. The defendants, both residents of Columbus, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter with a firearm specification, aggravated robbery with a firearm specification, and abduction.

Additionally, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Kimberly Cocroft sentenced Jeremiah Jackson, 25, of Columbus, to 23 to 27 years in prison for his role in Thomas’ killing. He had pleaded guilty on June 13, 2024, to the same charges that both Mullens pleaded guilty to.

Tony Cunningham, 22 of Columbus, pleaded guilty on July 16, 2024, to the same charges as the three previously mentioned defendants. He and the Mullens will be sentenced on Sept. 12, 2024. They each face a maximum sentence of 31 to 36½ years in prison.

On May 4, 2022, officers with the Columbus Division of Police were called to a shooting scene near the intersection of East Main Street and McNaughten Road. Thomas was found shot multiple times inside a vehicle and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Investigators determined that all four defendants planned and participated in an armed robbery of Thomas. Zacharias Mullen, Cunningham and Jackson shot Thomas during the robbery attempt. Surveillance video, evidence gathered at a pawn shop and at a residence for three of the defendants, and confessions helped lead to the arrest of and charges against all four defendants.

Assistant prosecutors Jeff Blake and Megan Farley prosecuted the case for the prosecutor’s office.

Columbus Division of Police Detective Mark Smith’s investigation played a vital role in securing the guilty pleas.