COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Police remain on the hunt Thursday for a man on probation who they say ran away from a traffic stop before turning and firing at two officers, striking both.
The suspect is Daveonte Dixon, 21, and officials believe he is armed. Dixon has prior convictions, including burglary and obstruction of justice, and is legally prohibited from carrying a firearm.
Those with information are asked to contact law enforcement, with Central Ohio Crime Stoppers offering a $10,000 reward over his arrest.
Daveonte Dixon (Courtesy/Franklin County Sheriff’s Office) 
Police presence at Perdue Avenue and Agler Road following the report of two Mifflin Township police officers being shot Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (NBC4) 
Police presence at Perdue Avenue and Agler Road following the report of two Mifflin Township police officers being shot Wednesday, May 28, 2025. (NBC4) 
Police respond to the scene near Mifflin Township on Wednesday, May 28. (NBC4) 
Large police presence reported at a local hospital after a reported police response near Mifflin Township Wednesday, May 28. (NBC4)
Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin said the incident started during a traffic stop by Mifflin Township officers about 6:45 p.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Perdue Avenue and Mecca Road, in a part of the Northeast Side that falls outside of Columbus city limits.
During the stop, Baldwin said that Dixon, the passenger in the car, started to run away. When officers chased after him, Dixon turned and fired.
“We have video of the shooting and you can clearly see that the passenger gets out, and as he runs, the officers go after him, he just turns and he opens fire on both of them,” Baldwin said. “This was just a simple traffic stop. It’s unknown why the passenger got out and turned and opened fire.”
Baldwin said a firearm was recovered, but he did not know if it was the gun allegedly used by Dixon.
Lt. Brian Steel of Columbus police, who serves as president of the local lodge for the Fraternal Order of Police, said the Mifflin Township officers were taken to the hospital. One was initially listed in critical condition, but it was later reported that he was stable, with the chief of the township force saying a long recovery is anticipated.
The other officer was listed as stable.
Baldwin said the driver of the vehicle in the traffic stop cooperated with police, is not considered a suspect and has been released.
“Our focus right now is on the recovery of our injured officers and bringing the individual responsible to justice,” Baldwin said. “We are asking anyone with information to come forward immediately.”
Baldwin’s office is part of the investigation, as is the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which typically handles officer-involved shootings.
Steel also reported that two Columbus police officers were stable after their cruiser crashed while responding to the officer-in-trouble call. The crash happened in the 2000 block of Cleveland Avenue.
