Man Fatally Shot by Police and Sheriff’s Deputy on Columbus’ East Side
Columbus, OH – A man has died after a shooting involving multiple Columbus police officers and at least one Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy on Saturday evening. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. in the 3000 and 3100 blocks of East Livingston Avenue, near James Road.
According to Chief Deputy Jim Gilbert, a sheriff’s deputy was working special duty at Walgreens on East Livingston Avenue when a man entered the store, claiming that another man outside had a gun and had shot at him. The deputy went outside, and more shots were fired, leading to a chase. The deputy then called for backup, prompting Columbus police and other deputies to respond. The deputy was wearing a body camera at the time.
Deputy Chief Tim Myers stated that Columbus police received a report at approximately 7:55 p.m. of someone shooting at a deputy. Officers were in the process of clearing an apartment building at the Bexley Commons complex on East Livingston Avenue, where the suspect had fled, when multiple officers reported firing shots at 8:03 p.m.
The suspect was transported to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at around 8:25 p.m., according to Myers. A firearm was found at the scene.
“This incident serves as a reminder that an assault on an officer isn’t just an assault on a person; it’s an assault on the rule of law,” Myers emphasized.
At least eight police cruisers were present at the scene as of 9:20 p.m., and a section of East Livingston Avenue between James and South Hampton roads was closed off.
Brian Steel, a Columbus police officer and executive vice president of Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No. 9, addressed the media at the scene just after 10 p.m. He stated, “Bad things happen when you try to confront the police with a weapon,” without directly referring to the specifics of the latest shooting involving law enforcement. Steel added, “We’re quickly turning into the city that never sleeps.”
The shooting occurred approximately three hours after federal officials announced the arrest of two suspects involved in a Thursday crime spree and shootout that left a Columbus police officer injured.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation will lead the investigation into the shooting. The identity of the deceased individual has not yet been released.
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What protocols and training are currently in place for law enforcement officers in Columbus to deescalate situations and avoid using lethal force?
Olice officers to respond to the scene.
Upon arriving at the scene, the officers and deputy encountered the armed suspect in the 3100 block of East Livingston Avenue. Despite repeated commands to drop his weapon, the suspect refused to comply and instead pointed the firearm at the officers and deputy. In response, multiple officers and the deputy discharged their weapons, fatally shooting the suspect.
The suspect was later identified as 31-year-old Eric Adams. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. The officers and deputy involved in the shooting were not injured.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Columbus Division of Police Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. All officers and the deputy involved will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.
This marks the latest incident involving the use of deadly force by law enforcement in Columbus, adding to the ongoing conversation surrounding police practices and the need for increased transparency and accountability. Community leaders and activists are calling for a thorough and impartial investigation to ensure justice is served.
Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther issued a statement expressing his condolences to the family and friends of Eric Adams and promising a thorough investigation. “We must ensure that every use of deadly force by law enforcement is thoroughly examined and that accountability measures are in place,” the statement read.
The shooting on Saturday evening has left the community grappling with yet another tragic loss of life and raises questions about the need for improved protocols and training for law enforcement officers to deescalate situations and avoid resorting to lethal force whenever possible.
