Man fleeing crash wounded in gunfire exchange with officers
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is examining what happened after a man who fled a traffic crash scene Wednesday night on West Broad Street in Prairie Township fired on pursuing law enforcement and was wounded when they returned fire.
According to a press release from Columbus police, officers saw two disabled vehicles from a traffic crash on West Broad Street, just west of the Interstate 270 interchange, shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday. Franklin County Sheriff's office deputies were also on scene.
The location of the crash was in Prairie Township, which falls under the sheriff's office jurisdiction.
Sgt. James Fuqua told reporters at the scene Wednesday night there was a conversation with one of the occupants of one of the vehicles, later identified as 30-year-old Brandon R. Johnson. Fuqua did not know Wednesday night what the conversation was about.
According to police, Johnson suddenly fled on foot and at least one deputy and one Columbus officer gave chase.
Court records show Johnson fired multiple rounds at two deputies and two officers who were on the scene.
The deputies were identified in court documents as Ryan Fultz, who has six years of experience, and Shaun Floyd, who has eight years of experience. The Columbus officers were identified as Edward Chung, who has seven years of experience, and Jeremy Hubbell, who has six years of experience.
At least one deputy and one officer returned fire at Johnson, however, it was not clear in court records which officer and deputy that was. Law enforcement has not yet identified the officers involved.
Johnson was struck in the lower body, police said, and was taken to Ohiohealth Grant Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening. Officers and deputies on scene provided medical assistance until paramedics arrived, according to Columbus police.
According to court records, while he was being transported to the hospital, Johnson told a deputy who was not involved in the initial incident that he "started shooting and thought they would stop chasing (him)."
Johnson, whose last known address is the YMCA in Downtown Columbus, is now facing four counts of first-degree felony felonious assault on a police officer, according to Franklin County Municipal Court records.
No officers or deputies were injured and the law enforcement personnel involved are on paid administrative leave, as is policy following a shooting.
Ohio BCI is handling the investigation of the case in accordance with Columbus policy for all shootings involving its officers.
It was not immediately known if anyone was injured in the crash, which caused substantial damage to both vehicles. The sheriff's office is handling the investigation into the crash and a report on the crash was not available Thursday afternoon. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner