COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus man received a six-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to a homicide charge in the shooting death of his girlfriend.
Franklin County Common Pleas Court records show that 30-year-old Gage Smith entered a guilty plea on March 12 to one amended count of reckless homicide with a firearm specification, along with one amended count of drug possession.
He had previously faced a murder charge in connection with the death of 32-year-old Autumn Ward on Jan. 7, 2025.
During the hearing, several of Ward’s family members and friends delivered victim impact statements, each urging the judge to impose the maximum sentence.
A state attorney acknowledged that Ward’s loved ones, many present in the courtroom, did not agree with the plea deal or the reduction of the charge from murder to reckless homicide.
However, he stated that there was not enough evidence to prove Smith “purposely or knowingly” caused Ward’s death.
According to the attorney, investigators determined that Smith had taken ketamine before going to sleep and after the incident occurred, though it remains unclear whether he was actively under the influence at the time of the shooting.
“We argue that the presence and usage of ketamine while sleeping with a loaded firearm under a pillow does make the conduct in this offense more serious than normally constituting the offense,” the attorney stated in court.
Credit: Provided by Autumn Ward’s family
The victim’s mother said she knows “he will not receive the sentence he deserves.”
After the hearing, 10TV spoke with Ward’s mother and sister, who said they do not believe justice was served. Ward’s mother expressed that it is not fair because she “will never get her baby back.”
Smith has already served 458 days of his sentence and will be required to complete two years of probation after his release.
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