North Linden Man Given Life Sentence in 2024 Shooting Death of Roommate

Posted on 11/13/2025

Defendant: Brian Sias

A North Linden man convicted of shooting and killing his roommate during an argument in 2024 will spend at least the next 21 years in prison.
 
Brian Sias, 39, was sentenced today to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 21 years. 
 
On Aug. 15, a Franklin County jury rejected Sias’ claim of self-defense and found him guilty on two counts of murder and one count of felonious assault, all with firearm specifications.
 
Case Background
 
At about 1:20 p.m. on May 16, 2024, Columbus police were called to the 1200 block of Manchester Avenue in North Linden on a report of a roommate dispute. As they headed to the location, they received word that a shooting had just taken place.
 
Arriving officers found Sias on the front porch with his hands in the air and a gun in the front pocket of his hoodie. Sias told police that he and his roommate, William Applegate, had gotten into an argument about their living situation.
 
Police found Applegate, 29, inside the house, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He died shortly afterward.
 
Sias was arrested at the scene and later jailed on $500,000 bond.