COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — One police officer was shot in Northeast Columbus and critically injured Thursday morning. A second officer was also injured but is stable.
The shooting happened at 8:21 am at 3204 Chelford Drive. The officer was transported to Mount Carmel East, in critical condition.
Federal officials have now charged 68-year-old Rita Gray with the shooting of the officer.
The officer who was critically injured is out of surgery and recovering, Columbus Division of Police Chief Tom Quinlan said. Quinlin said he is a close friend of the officer and was at the hospital and spoke with him after he came out of surgery. He is expected to survive his injuries.
According to Ohio Attorney General David Yost, the officer was shot once in the bulletproof vest and once outside the vest. He did not elaborate further on the officer’s injuries.
The house where the shooting occurred is a suspected drug trafficking location where there is a “substantial weight” of drugs and cash, Yost said.
Yost said as officers entered the home, the resident inside the house started shooting at officers through the wall. Yost said the officer was shot when he was in eyesight of the suspect.
Because of their close friendship, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation will be investigating the incident, Quinlan stated.
A second officer was injured and taken to the hospital in stable condition. That officer’s injury was not the result of a gunshot wound.
According to Columbus police, a suspect is in custody from the home where the incident happened. The identity of the suspect will not be released until formal charges are filed.
The identity of the officer is expected to be release Friday, Yost said.
CPD has called in the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to take over the investigation.
Attorney General Dave Yost and BCI will give another update on the investigation at 3 p.m.
