COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office has decided not to present any charges against the three Columbus officers who fired their weapons while responding to a shootout in the Short North last year.
A total of 10 people were shot at two different locations on North High Street on May 6, 2023 and one suspect was arrested, according to Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant.
Officers received reports of shots fired in the 600 block of North High Street near The Guild House restaurant.
At the same time, two officers were conducting patrols with food truck license inspectors in the 800 block of North High Street when they encountered a large group of people fighting on the street. The officers, who used pepper spray on at least one person, attempted to stop the fighting when gunshots were fired nearby.
A total of three officers discharged their weapons, according to Sgt. Joseph Albert.
Body camera footage from officer Carl Harmon and officer Jacob Velas shows them running toward the sounds of the gunfire and shortly after, firing shots at the suspects.
The third officer, identified as Ian Mansperger, did not have a body camera because he was working special duty and is not required to wear one, according to Albert.
Bryant said at the time of the shooting that two of the 10 injured were injured by the Columbus officers.
The 10 people who were shot all survived. Police did not provide details on how many individuals were shot at each scene and if they were connected.
All of the shooting victims were between 18 and 27 years old. Multiple people who were shot walked into hospitals on their own. Eleven firearms were recovered from both scenes.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation looked into the officer-involved part of the shooting and referred the case to the Franklin County prosecutor's office in November. 10TV has requested the records from the BCI investigation.
The prosecutor’s office says the officers will not go in front of the grand jury.
Columbus Police’s Major Crimes Unit is still working on investigating the other shootings and has not filed any charges yet.