19-Year-Old Suspect Accused of Shooting Woman, Firing at Columbus Police Before Surrendering
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A 19-year-old man is in custody after allegedly shooting a woman and later exchanging gunfire with Columbus police officers during a tense standoff on the city’s South Side Saturday afternoon.
According to the Columbus Division of Police, the incident began around 2:30 p.m. when officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Gilbert Street in the Southern Orchards neighborhood following a 911 call from a woman who reported being choked.
While officers were en route, a second 911 call came in reporting that the same woman had been shot. Investigators said that in the background of the initial call, a male voice could be heard taunting authorities, saying: “Come get me. I got something for you all.”
By the time officers arrived, the wounded woman had already been transported by family members to a nearby hospital. She underwent surgery and is expected to survive her injuries.
When officers entered the home, they discovered the armed suspect upstairs. He refused to surrender and at one point fired shots at police. At least one officer returned fire, though neither the suspect nor the officers were struck in the initial exchange.
As the situation escalated, police established a perimeter and requested the assistance of the department’s SWAT team and a crisis negotiator. Before those units arrived, however, the standoff came to an end when the suspect surrendered peacefully around 3:30 p.m., roughly an hour after the first call.
The 19-year-old was taken into custody without injury. Police said he is expected to be charged with felonious assault in connection with both the shooting of the woman and the shots fired at officers. His name has not yet been released pending formal charges.
One officer suffered a minor injury during the response and was later treated at a hospital. Officials did not provide details on how the injury occurred but confirmed it was not from gunfire.
The investigation is ongoing, with detectives interviewing witnesses and processing the crime scene.
The incident has rattled residents in the Southern Orchards community, who say the sound of gunfire followed by a heavy police response brought fear to the normally quiet neighborhood.
Police officials praised the quick actions of responding officers, who were able to contain the situation until the suspect surrendered.
“This could have ended much worse,” one Columbus police spokesperson said Saturday evening. “Our priority is always to protect lives — including those of the victims, our officers, and even the suspect. Thankfully, everyone made it out alive.”
The suspect remains in custody as prosecutors review the case. More details are expected to be released in the coming days.