COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two men from Columbus have been sentenced to a total of 70 years in prison for the 2019 murder of a husband and wife during a robbery at an internet cafe. Chris King, 28, and Justice Stringer, 29, were indicted on murder charges after robbing the Players Paradise cafe on East Broad Street.
The U.S. District Attorney’s Office revealed that King received a 40-year sentence, while Stringer received a 30-year sentence. The two men, along with a third accomplice, Brisco Dawkins, entered the cafe at 4 a.m. on Jan. 20 and proceeded to rob the store at gunpoint. Sadly, the robbery turned fatal when Stringer and King murdered the security guard, Joseph Arrington, and his wife, Karen Arrington.
Court documents revealed that the suspects positioned themselves near the business’ office door, with one of them pretending to play at a game station, before confronting the Arringtons. Both victims were shot and killed by King before Stringer drove the men away from the scene.
This was not the only crime perpetrated by the defendants. In fact, they were involved in a string of robberies of Internet gaming businesses, including a prior robbery at the same cafe in December 2018, where they stole $30,000 in cash. Additionally, Stringer admitted to being involved in a separate robbery in January 2019 at another cafe on Alum Creek Drive. It was revealed that five total defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury for their involvement in these crimes.
The defendants have been linked to a series of internet cafe robberies, and their criminal activities have led to tragic consequences for the victims and their families. The sentencing of the two men serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of such violent crimes and the impact they have on communities.