GAHANNA, Ohio (WCMH) – One person was killed Thursday morning in a shooting involving Gahanna police.
According to a Gahanna city spokesperson, police were involved in the shooting near the 800 block of Taylor Road. No officers were injured, and the suspect was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Officers were called to a hotel around 9:30 a.m. to assist with a person who staff said used a fraudulent credit card. Police said the person would not exit his room and fled out a window, running across the street into an empty lot that was between an assisted living facility and a residence. Officers quickly followed and realized he was armed with a handgun.
According to officials, officers went through multiple de-escalation techniques with the suspect, who was in his early 20s, including at least 36 commands to drop the weapon. Police said both verbal commands and an attempt to stun the suspect did not remedy the situation, and the suspect eventually pointed his gun directly at an officer, which is when multiple officers fired.
According to a news conference held by Gahanna officials, Mayor Laurie Jadwin has asked for an outside investigation by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Four officers were placed on administrative leave because of their involvement, per division policy.
“It’s about one of the worst calls that an officer, any officer can experience. No officer wants to do what they had to do today,” police union vice president Brian Toth said. “Today also highlights the dangers, the great dangers that all of our law enforcement officers face throughout the country.”
Gahanna Middle School South and Lincoln Elementary schools were briefly placed into a “secure status” due to nearby police activity, the school district confirmed. Classes have resumed at both locations.
Taylor Road was closed for several hours as the investigation continued.