Grand jury declines to indict Ohio police officers involved in 2023 mall shooting – WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio

COLUMBUS — A grand jury has declined to indict two Ohio police officers in the shooting that killed a man at a shopping mall last year.

Our news partners at WBNS-10 TV reported that a Franklin County grand jury did not indict two Columbus police officers in the Aug. 9, 2023, shooting of 29-year-old Austin Huntzinger.

On August 9, 2023, officers were called to the 4000 block of South High Street for reports of a man with a gun.

>> “It happened all of a sudden; » Person shows up on porch with gunshot wound in Dayton

They received a second call a short time later about a man carjacking an individual in a nearby parking lot.

When officers arrived on scene, they found 29-year-old Austin Huntzinger inside the carjacked vehicle.

The prosecutor's office said investigators determined that as the officers got out of their car, Huntzinger got out of the hijacked vehicle with a gun in his hand.

>> “I think someone is hurt; » At least one person hospitalized after shooting near Harrison Township gas station

He then pointed his gun at the officers as he attempted to flee the scene, according to the prosecutor's office.

The officers ordered Huntzinger to drop the gun, but he fired, hitting one of them in the thigh. The officers then returned fire and shot Huntzinger.

Medics took Huntzinger to Grant Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

>> At least one person taken to hospital after vehicle crashes into pole in Dayton

The injured police officer survived his injuries.

The prosecutor's office said gun tests confirmed that Huntzinger fired his gun twice.

Body camera and Cruiser camera footage captured the incident and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigated.

©2024 Cox Media Group