Ohio man brandishing 'edged weapon' killed by police after chase west of Columbus

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

On Monday at 11:15 p.m., Columbus Police responded to multiple calls reporting a man threatening people with a knife in his hand. Officers arrived at the intersection of Georgesville and Clime Roads in the Georgian Heights neighborhood and located a man standing outside of a vehicle. Police said the man was holding a “bladed weapon” while in the middle of the intersection.

The officers ordered the man to show his hands in English and Spanish, but the orders were ignored. The man got back into his vehicle and left. The police followed him at low speed through the neighborhood, heading north on Georgesville Road.

The man exited his vehicle twice, once after turning westbound onto Sullivant Avenue and once at the intersection of Sullivant Avenue and Industrial Mile Road. Both times, the man allegedly held the gun.

While standing at Sullivant Avenue and Industrial Mile Road, the man began walking toward traffic while holding the gun in his hand. Police said the commands were again ignored and they deployed a Taser on the suspect, without success.

Shortly after, the suspect turned toward the officers and charged at them. Police said several officers fired their firearms, striking the man. Medics rushed him to Doctor's West Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11:49 p.m.

Police said they attempted to take non-lethal measures to stop the man before firing his weapon.

“An officer deployed his Taser on the man (but) it did not have the desired effect on the man,” Sergeant Joe Albert said. “At that point, the man turned and charged the officers with the bladed weapon in his hand. Several police officers fired their guns and hit the man.

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