Columbus Woman Convicted in 2022 Nightclub Killings of Sisters

Posted on 4/28/2025

Defendant: Amara Battle

A Franklin County jury has found a Columbus woman guilty of killing two sisters following an early morning fight at a nightclub in 2022.
 
Amara Battle, 30, was found guilty today in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas on four counts of murder with three-year firearm specifications. Her sentencing is set for a future date.
 
Case Background
 
Just after 4:30 a.m. on Sept. 25, 2022, Columbus Police were called to the now-shuttered Queen of Hearts Pub in the 5500 block of East Livingston Avenue on a report of a shooting. There, they found 30-year-old Shamira Rhodes and 17-year-old Kha’Terra “BeBe” Griffin suffering from gunshot wounds.
 
Rhodes, a mother of three, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her younger sister, Griffin, died on Oct. 15, 2022, after multiple surgeries.
 
Battle was arrested on Oct. 6, 2022. Security footage showed Battle walking up to Rhodes and attacking her as she and Griffin attended an after-hours party at the club.
 
“My heart goes out to Nichole Rhodes, who lost two daughters to such senseless violence, and to all those who knew and loved Shamira and Kha’Terra,” said Franklin County Prosecutor Shayla D. Favor. “While a guilty verdict doesn’t alleviate the pain of that September morning, I hope those affected are able to rest a bit easier knowing that justice was served. I am grateful to prosecutors David Zeyen and John Cornely for their diligent work on this case.”