COLUMBUS, Ohio — There are still many questions around a fatal shooting inside a Kroger grocery store Sunday evening.
The Columbus Division of Police says a security officer and a customer got into a fight around 6:45 p.m. Then the customer got her boyfriend, 26-year-old Paris Royal involved.
Police say Royal also began fighting with the security guard. Then the guard shot, and fatally wounded Royal.
At the time of the shooting, Royal was out of prison after he served four years for voluntary manslaughter and was currently on parole.
Royal and another man were charged in 2015 following a fight that turned deadly at a party. Royal took a plea deal.
While police have not released any additional information, many are wondering what qualifications the security guard had to carry a gun.
“Just like in law enforcement, you are trained to de-escalate whenever possible. You are also trained, if you have to use force, you have to know when you are justified in using force,” said Eric Delbert, owner of L.E.P.D Firearms & Range.
Last year, Delbert’s business trained just under 600 private security officers. He says many people may be surprised to learn about the training a security guard has to go through.
“They absolutely have to be qualified. Anyone who is carrying a gun as a security guard or as private security in Ohio does go through an OPOTA mandated class,” Delbert said.
The Ohio Police Officer Training Academy sets a 20-hour minimum training on security guards, which includes time in a range. Once year they must complete a four-hour refresher course.
“Ironically, the shooting portion of the class, the 20 hours or the four hour is a little more strict than law enforcement,” Delbert said.
Delbert adds, it's up to the security company whether a guard carries something other than gun like a stun gun.
“It is not mandated that they carry less lethal alternatives. Many do. Many come and do training with their employees on mace or handcuffing techniques,” Delbert said.
Police have not filed any charges at this time. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).