Man shoots wife twice, kills self in police standoff

A Franklinton man who shot his wife twice Wednesday during a family argument apparently later killed himself in his home during a standoff with Columbus police and Franklin County SWAT officers, according to police and court records.

Dennis Lynn Lambert, 54, of North Guilford Avenue, was pronounced dead at 8:25 p.m. after SWAT officers who entered the home found him dead inside. Authorities believe he died by suicide though the cause remains under investigation.

Lambert holed up in the home after police responded to a shooting call at the home just north of West Broad Street about 5:40 p.m. Wednesday. Court records indicate that during a family argument, Lambert shot his wife, Dolores Lambert, in the right arm. Lambert’s adult son wrestled the gun away from his father, who then retrieved a second gun and shot his wife again, this time in the left leg, court records state.

Dolores Lambert and her son and possibly other occupants had fled the home by the time police arrived, and Dennis Lambert barricaded himself inside. Dolores Lambert was taken to a local hospital, where she was in stable condition undergoing surgery, police said.

Police surrounded the home, and SWAT members and their Bearcat armored vehicle were called to the scene while other units blocked off streets in the neighborhood and a helicopter hovered overhead to make sure the perimeter was secured. A short time later, Columbus asked the Franklin County sheriff’s office to send its two Bearcats to the scene as well.

At one point, there was a report of gunfire inside the home as SWAT planned how to enter the house.

Prior to SWAT entering the home, Dennis Lambert could not be reached by police attempting to communicate with him via phone or a public address system, said Sgt. Rich Weiner, a police spokesman.

Franklin County Municipal Court records indicate that Dennis Lambert had a history of domestic violence with his wife and family.

On Aug. 13, police report that Lambert was in a physical altercation with son Jonathan Lambert.

Dennis Lambert, who claimed he was the one attacked, was charged with domestic violence and assault. On Sept. 7, he pleaded guilty to an amended charge of criminal mischief and was sentenced to two days in jail with credit for two days served.

In June 2005, Dennis Lambert was charged with domestic violence, assault and endangering a child; he was accused of slamming then-3-year-old son Wesley Lambert’s head into a living room wall. He also was charged with resisting arrest, court records show.

On Sept. 27, 2005, he pleaded guilty to amended misdemeanor charges of domestic violence and disorderly conduct. His sentence included $3,171 in fines and court-related costs and 90 days in jail with 89 days suspended and credit for one day served.