Columbus police release video of officer shooting suspect in University District
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus police on Thursday released body camera footage showing the moments an officer fatally shot an alleged robbery suspect in the University District.
Officers patrolling at North High Street and East 8th Avenue in the University District responded to a robbery call at 3:26 a.m. on Sunday. Two people told officers that a man approached them with a firearm.
The officer was driving down East 8th Avenue when a man flagged him down.
Bystander: "Did you get those kids?"
Officer: "The one we were looking for we got back there on Indianola."
Bystander: "Those two guys right there, one of them just pulled a gun on me."
The officer turns the corner and approaches a man identified by police as TaShawn Davis, 18.
"Get your hands up or I'm going to shoot you," the officer said as Davis began to run away.
It appeared Davis picked something up from the ground. The officer yelled commands again.
The officer fired about 10 shots. The officer waited for backup and then began to render aid. It appeared Davis was shot in the back.
Davis was taken to a hospital where he later died.
Columbus police have not identified the officer involved in the shooting, citing Marsy's Law, which protects identities of victims of violent crimes. However, CPD said the officer is a 14-year veteran of the department.
NBC4 asked Chief Elaine Bryant if she feels the officer involved followed protocol. She said he responded accordingly with the information he was given.
"No one should ever lose their life," Bryant said. "Unfortunately, when decisions are made, when people choose to have a gun. Decisions are made. Unfortunately, things like this can occur. So, I don't think anyone deserves to lose their life, but at the same time, officers are responding to a situation where someone pointed a gun at someone."
Bryant said Davis's family viewed the video before it was released.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is handling the investigation, which is standard procedure for shootings involving officers.