In Columbus, Ohio, a homicide case tied to a December 2, 2023 shooting is now ending with a not-guilty finding after a judge ordered an unusual reset of the original verdict.
On April 16, 2026, Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Mark Serrott found LaRoy Robinson not guilty of murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence in the death of Malik Islam. Robinson, 51, had previously been convicted by a jury in May 2024, a result that carried the possibility of a life sentence.
That conviction did not stand. Judge Serrott later set aside the jury’s verdict, saying the jury had been given improper instructions on Ohio self-defense law. The ruling triggered a second trial.
For the retrial held April 13, 2026, Robinson waived a jury and chose a bench trial, leaving the decision to Judge Serrott. Robinson testified that he was seated in a parked car on Cornell Avenue when Islam, 46, approached and began a verbal confrontation. Robinson told the court he believed Islam reached into a pocket for what appeared to be a firearm, and Robinson fired one shot.
After reviewing the evidence presented at the bench trial, the judge concluded the shooting was justified as self-defense and entered not-guilty findings on the homicide-related charges.
Robinson was still found guilty of having weapons while under disability, based on a prior felony conviction that barred him from possessing a firearm. For that offense, the court imposed five years of probation, a $1,000 fine, and payment of court costs and fees.
The case highlights two practical public-safety takeaways that routinely affect outcomes in self-defense prosecutions: first, jury instructions must accurately reflect the law because errors can require a new trial; second, a separate firearms-disability charge can apply even when a court finds the underlying use of force justified.