COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Division of Police identified the person fatally shot while trying to stop a suspect from breaking into vehicles at an apartment complex on Wednesday as a 39-year-old man.
Just before 12:15 a.m., officers were called to the 2700 block of Jester Lane near East Dublin Granville Road on the northeast side on a reported shooting. They found a man, identified as Alejandro Lopez-Lechuga, shot in the 5500 block of Princess Place.
Officers rendered aid to Lopez-Lechuga until medics arrived. He was taken to Mount Carmel St Ann’s hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead at 12:55 a.m.
Several witnesses told police that the suspect was possibly breaking into vehicles that were parked at the apartment complex. Witnesses said that Lopez-Lechuga confronted the suspect and was shot. The suspect left the area in a vehicle.
Sgt. Joe Albert said police were able to identify the suspect and the vehicle. Plain-clothes officers and SWAT set up a surveillance at the suspect's address. The suspect left the residence in the vehicle and officers followed him to the 6000 block of Cooper Colony Drive. Albert said an officer attempted to pull over the vehicle around 3:15 p.m.
The suspect reportedly got out of the passenger side with a rifle in his hand and started running down a sidewalk. At least one officer fired their weapon and struck the suspect, according to Albert. Medics took the suspect to Riverside Methodist Hospital and his condition is described as life-threatening, but stable.
Albert said the rifle was recovered from the scene. The suspect will likely face charges out of Wednesday evening's incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477), where anonymous tips can be submitted.