COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Division of Police released body camera video showing the moments officers exchanged gunfire with an armed man during a barricade situation in the University District on Sunday.
According to police, someone called 911 from Worthington Street around 8 a.m. stating a former roommate had possibly broken into his home and was inside the residence at the time of the call. The caller described the former roommate as "pretty dangerous to live with" and had "dangerous altercations" with residents in the past. The caller also said the roommate was known to carry weapons.
Two officers arrived at the residence at 8:07 a.m. and approached the front door, which was already open. Bodycam video shows a person, later identified as Asante Taaj Omar Miller, peeking around a wall. Officers told Miller to put up his hands, but he disappeared.
The officers walked around the side of the home and saw Miller again. One of the officers spoke on his radio saying Miller had a gun. They continued to tell Miller to put the gun down, but he ran away.
After searching around the block for a few minutes, Miller was seen behind the residence on Worthington Street again. At 8:18 a.m., officers told Miller to drop the gun, but he ran to what appears to be an apartment building near the residence.
At that time, multiple shots were fired. Franklin County Municipal Court documents say Miller fired at officers, but the video does not clearly show that. It does show at least two officers firing multiple shots at Miller. The video shows Miller running away again.
Around 8:22 a.m. officers discovered a home with an open door. One of the officers commented about how it appeared there was a forced entry. Officers entered the house and repeated orders to "sound off."
After a couple of minutes of clearing rooms, an officer opens another door and is met with gunfire. Police said officers fired multiple shots in return.
About a minute after shots were fired, officers ordered Miller to sound off, come out and show his hands. A few moments later, a singular gunshot is heard, and officers leave the house.
At 9:47 a.m., SWAT officers arrived and began attempting to contact Miller. Three hours later, SWAT officers entered the house and found Miller not breathing. He was pronounced dead at 1:15 p.m. It's unclear how Miller died.
No officers were reported injured.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation has been called to investigate the incident.