Ohio man killed by police with ‘firearm’ after chase in West Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man with an “edged weapon” led police on a chase in west Columbus before he was shot and killed late Monday night.

At 11:15 p.m. on Monday, Columbus police responded to several calls reporting a man threatening people with a knife in his hand. Officers arrived at the intersection of Georgesville Road and Clime Road in the Georgian Heights neighborhood and spotted a man standing next to a vehicle. Police said the man was holding an “edged weapon” in the middle of the intersection.

Officers asked the man in English and Spanish to show him his hands, but these requests were ignored. The man got back into his vehicle and drove away. Police followed him at a slow speed through the neighborhood, heading north on Georgesville Road.

The man exited his vehicle twice, once after turning west onto Sullivant Avenue and again at the intersection of Sullivant Ave. and Industrial Mile Road. Both times, the man allegedly had the gun in his hand.

While standing on Sullivant Avenue and Industrial Mile Road, the man began walking toward traffic with the gun in his hand. Police said commands were again ignored and they used a Taser on the suspect, but it was unsuccessful.

Shortly afterward, the suspect turned toward officers and charged at them. Police said several officers fired their weapons, striking the man. Paramedics took him to Doctor’s West Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:49 p.m.

Police said they attempted to stop the man using non-lethal measures before firing their weapons.

“An officer deployed his taser on the man, but it did not have the desired effect,” said Sergeant Joe Albert. “The man then turned around and charged the officers with the weapon in his hand. Several officers fired their weapons, striking the man.”

As with all incidents involving a police officer in a shooting, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is currently investigating the incident.