VIDEO: Columbus Officers Fired on During Early Thursday Call
Columbus, OH, police officers were targeted by gunfire early Thursday morning, according to police. Officers have not released a suspect description at this time and no injuries have been reported.
Police say they were investigating a report of a firearm discharged into an apartment in the area of 1175 Windsor Avenue. Officers found two apartments along with multiple vehicles struck by gunfire.
While officers were waiting for detectives, police say someone opened fire on the officers using a “high caliber firearm.” Early reports said the shots were fired by a rifle, but in a press conference today, Columbus police spokesperson Sgt. Rich Weiner indicated that the weapon was a handgun.
Weiner said there’s no doubt the shots were targeting the officers. “There’s very different distinct sound when you hear gunfire, and when you know you’re being shot at,” said. “Gunfire, you hear the pops, the loud booms bangs, whatever it is. When you know you’ve been shot at it’s like a soft whistle. It’s the bullet cutting through the air. Very distinct sound. The officers felt their lives were in jeopardy.”
Weiner said the officers took cover and were “extracted” from the scene by a SWAT unit using an armored vehicle. No officers returned fire.
A bullet and multiple shell casings were later recovered by detectives, WCMH TV reports.
