BL 800 gang member jailed for nearly 20 years for a string of murders in 2023

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

Bush Salat, 20, pleaded guilty in September to charges of participating in a criminal gang, robbery, felonious assault and improperly discharging a weapon in a dwelling.

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Sheryl Munson ordered Salat to serve 18 to 21 years in prison on Thursday.

Court records say Salat, of the West Side, was a documented member of the BL 800 tape or Bantu Life 800 tapewhich operated in Wedgewood Village Apartments between at least May 2022 and March 2023.

During this time, Salat and others participated in several armed robberies, including a Wal-Mart on Westpointe Plaza Drive and shot up apartments in 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 members of the gang in October 2023, saying the members were involved in high-level crimes of firearms theft, gun violence and drug trafficking.

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

The BL 800 gang came to the attention of the police after an increase in violence in 2021, including a gang conflict at Wedgewood and Southpark.

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

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