Franklin County Prosecutor secures guilty plea for the murders of Cornet Powell and Dawn Dunn

Posted on 10/15/2024

Defendant: Jonathan Pigram

The Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office secured guilty pleas Thursday from Jonathan Pigram of Columbus, for murdering Cornet Powell, and Dawn Dunn in May 2023. Pigram, 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder for the deaths of Powell and Dunn, both of whom were 41, to two counts of attempted murder and one count of weapons under disability on an unrelated case.

Assistant prosecuting attorneys John Gripshover and John Cornely prosecuted the case.

On May 1, 2023, eyewitnesses reported to police Pigram confronted the victims outside a pub on Cleveland Avenue in Columbus, and opened fire, killing Dunn and Powell. Pigram shot at two additional victims, hitting one in the face and missing another. Columbus Division of Police detectives determined that Pigram did not know any of the victims.

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Carl Aveni will schedule the sentencing for a date to be determined. Prosecutors are recommending a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 52 years.