Alleged gang member charged in deadly Wickham Drive shooting

Columbus police have made an arrest in the shooting death of James Francesconi, a 26-year-old man who was killed while sitting in his car.

Clayton Perry, 17, is charged with murder, armed robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime.

Francesconi was found suffering from a gunshot wound around 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 15 at 228 Wickham Drive. He was transported to Midtown Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m.

Perry is scheduled to appear in Columbus Recorder’s Court on Friday at 8 a.m.

Perry also faces two charges in a massive burglary ring. Columbus police arrested 12 alleged gang members, eight adults and four juveniles, in late September and charged them with 118 counts after a four-month investigation.

All suspects are charged with criminal gang activity along with multiple other charges. Many have been identified as members of the Zohannon gang, a subset of the Gangster Disciples, the largest gang operating in Columbus.

Police said the investigation cleared 33 residential burglaries, seven auto thefts, one burglary second degree and the seizure of eight guns. Columbus police said $159,840 in stolen property was recovered.

This story was originally published October 12, 2017 at 5:38 PM with the headline "Alleged gang member charged in deadly Wickham Drive shooting."