BL 800 gang member sentenced to almost 20 years in prison for 2023 crime spree

A West Side gang member involved in several armed robberies will spend nearly two decades in prison.

Bush Salat, 20, pleaded guilty in September to charges of participating in a criminal group, robbery, criminal assault and improperly discharging a firearm in a residence.

On Thursday, Franklin County Judge Sheryl Munson ordered Salat to serve 18 to 21 years in prison.

Court records show Salat, of the West Side, was a documented member of… BL 800 gang or Bantu Life 800 gangwhich operated in Wedgewood Village Apartments at least from May 2022 to March 2023.

During this time, Salat and others were involved in several armed robberies, including at the Wal-Mart on Westpointe Plaza Drive, and shot into apartments in the neighborhood Southpark Apartmentsnow called Greenwood Village Apartments.

Court records show Salat was involved in at least two shootings in January and March 2023.

Columbus police arrested 13 gang members in October 2023, saying they were involved in large-scale firearms thefts, gun violence and drug trafficking.

Bantu-speaking people, including over 400 distinct minority groups from over 20 countries in parts of Africa, including Somalia. Wedgewood Apartments is home to a large Somali community.

The BL 800 gang has come to the attention of police following an increase in violence in 2021, including conflict between gangs in Wedgewood and Southpark.

As part of the plea agreement in Salat’s case, several other charges were dismissed, including receiving stolen property and theft.

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