COLUMBUS – A Columbus police officer is recovering from a gunshot wound suffered in a shootout with a robbery suspect at a South Side shopping center early Wednesday morning, which left the suspect dead.
A caller told 911 dispatchers a man was robbing an individual at gunpoint at the Great Southern Shopping Center, 40 Great Southern Boulevard, at approximately 6:51 a.m. and officers arrived less than two minutes later, when they encountered Austin Huntzinger in the parking lot with a firearm, according to a release from the Columbus Division of Police.
Officers exchanged gunfire with the 29-year-old Huntzinger, leaving one officer and Huntzinger injured, police said.
When additional officers arrived on the scene, they rendered first aid to the officer and Huntzinger.
Both were taken to OhioHealth Grant Medical Center where Huntzinger died just after 7:20 a.m.
The officer is recovering in stable condition.
A second individual was taken into custody at the scene and was questioned by detectives about their possible involvement.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
One dead in home invasion
A man was killed and another person injured in a violent home invasion on the East Side early Wednesday.
Officers who arrived on the scene in the 1200 block of Elderwood Avenue just before 1:00 a.m. found Shermon Lindsey Jr. suffering from a gunshot wound, Sgt. Terry McConnell of the Columbus police Homicide Unit said.
Columbus Division of Fire paramedics pronounced the 46-year-old man dead at the scene.
Detectives say the suspects physically assaulted another adult in the home before they fled the scene, McConnell said.
There was a third adult and a juvenile at the scene who were not injured.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Columbus Police Homicide Unit at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).