VIDEO: Machete-Wielding Man Injures 4 in Ohio Restaurant Attack
Frantic 911 calls captured the moment a machete-wielding man injured four people in an attack at an Ohio restaurant before he was shot dead by police Thursday, reports ABC.
The man's attack was first reported at the Nazareth Restaurant and Deli in Columbus around 6 p.m., the Columbus Police Department said today. The man allegedly walked into the restaurant, had a conversation with an employee and left, before returning about 30 minutes later, according to the Associated Press. That's when he allegedly approached a man and a woman sitting by the door and launched his attack, the AP reported.
"Some guy pulled out a machete and started stabbing people," one mother said in a 911 call obtained by ABC News. "I ran out with my kids." She said she was calling from another store's bathroom with her two young children.
"My wife just called me in a panic," another 911 caller said, "telling me that a guy in the restaurant's stabbing people. And she's hiding, I think, out in the back. She cut her hand pretty bad."
Police said the terrified customers tried to fight back. "Some of the patrons there started throwing chairs at him just trying to get him out of there," Columbus police Sgt. Rich Weiner said, according to the AP. "There was no rhyme or reason as to who he was going after."
The suspect, identified as Mohamed Barry, 30, according to Franklin County Coroner Dr. Anahi Ortiz, eventually fled the scene in a car with police in pursuit, according to a police press release.
After some time, the suspect stopped and exited the car, armed with a machete in one hand and a knife in the other, police said in the release. Officers deployed a TASER, but it wasn't effective. As the suspect lunged at police, an officer shot him multiple times, according to the release. Officer John Johnson, a 25-year veteran, fired the shots, police said.
Barry died at the scene.
Four victims -- three men and one woman -- were hospitalized after the attack, police said. All are expected to recover: one in critical but stable condition and two in stable condition today. Another has been treated and released.
No officers were injured, police said.
The motive for the attack is not yet clear.
