Donovan Lewis, 20, died Tuesday after being shot by Columbus Police Officer Ricky Anderson, a 30-year veteran of the Columbus Police Division assigned to the K9 unit, according to a police statement.
At a press conference Tuesday, Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said the shooting happened around 2 a.m. Tuesday at an apartment building where uniformed officers were serving a warrant for his arrest for domestic violence and assault and mishandling a gun. Police did not say who the warrant was for.
“Officers knocked on the door for several minutes … recognizing themselves as Columbus police officers,” Bryant said.
Police body camera video shows them knocking and calling out to occupants repeatedly for more than eight minutes. They called “Donovan” by name several times.
Eventually, a man came to the door and was arrested by police, Bryant said. He told the police that he was sleeping and they took a knife out of his pocket. A second man inside the apartment was arrested about a minute later.
Officers asked if anyone else was inside the apartment, Bryant said, but were unable to determine.
Anderson and a K9 were then called by Columbus police to see if anyone else was inside, Bryant said.
“Once the K9 officer arrived on the scene, further announcements were made for anyone else inside to come out or that the K9 was going to be released inside the apartment,” said Bryant.
In the police body camera video, the K9 is seen barking outside the back bedroom door, then officers enter the flat and warn that they are going to send a dog.
An officer is seen opening the bedroom door, where a man is seen on a bed.
Bodycam video shows Anderson firing a single shot at a man, later identified as Lewis, moments after opening the bedroom door.
During the press conference, Bryant showed frame-by-frame body camera video, saying that the moment Anderson opened fire, it looked like Lewis was holding “something” in his hand.
A vape pen was later found next to Lewis on the bed, Bryant said. Once Lewis was handcuffed, video shows officers began to provide assistance.
Lewis was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:19 a.m., according to the Columbus police statement.
Officer on leave pending investigation, ministry says
“Because of this totally reckless behavior by a Columbus police officer, a family must mourn the loss of such a young soul.”
During the press conference, Bryant said Anderson is currently on leave.
CNN attempted to contact Anderson for comment and also reached out to the Fraternal Order of Police.
“Every day, officers are placed in compromising, life-threatening situations where we have to make split-second decisions,” Bryant said. “As a leader, it’s my job to hold my officers accountable, but it’s also my job to offer them support and make sure I give it to them through the process. If they do the right things for the right reasons, we will If they do something wrong, they will be held accountable.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident.