Two dead after suspect gets in ‘gun battle’ with police in east Columbus – MASHAHER

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Two people are dead after what a police union representative called a “gun battle” between an apparent domestic violence suspect and Columbus police Saturday night.

According to Columbus police dispatchers, the shootout happened just after 7 p.m. on the 4700 block of McAllister Avenue. Brian Toth, the executive vice president for the Fraternal Order of Police, said the situation appears to have started when officers responded to a domestic violence call.

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“Domestic violence is the worst kind of call a police officer is going to go on,” he said.

When officers arrived, they were met with gunfire from a “heavily armed suspect,” Toth said, adding that bystanders were in the area when the shooting started. Columbus police later said the suspect had a rifle.

At least one officer returned fire and struck the suspect, Columbus police said. He was pronounced dead at 7:50 p.m. No officers were injured in the incident.

“The suspect, he dictated their response,” Toth said. “When the officers pulled up, they had no idea they were going to run into a gun battle and they did. And thankfully they’re alive and those innocent bystanders, thankfully they’re alive by the grace of God as well.”

According to Columbus police, as emergency responders secured the scene, medics and officers were directed to a home on the 100 block of Lockwood Road, where they found a woman police said was shot by the suspect before the shootout. She was pronounced dead on the scene at 7:18 p.m.

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Officials have not released the identity of the suspect or the officers involved in the call.

As with every police shooting, the Ohio Bureau of Investigation with the attorney general’s office was called to the scene to investigate. Homicide detectives are investigating the women’s death.

Toth’s full statement can be watched in the video player below.

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