Franklin County grand jury declined to bring criminal charges against Columbus police officers who fatally shot a man who charged at them with an edged weapon, according to the police union that represents Columbus officers.
Fraternal Order of Police Capitol City Lodge No. 9 President Brian Steel said the grand jury handed up its decision Sept. 9, clearing the five officers involved in the June 10, 2024, fatal shooting of Noel Hernandez.
The shooting occurred around 11:15 p.m. near the intersection of Sullivant Avenue and Industrial Mile Road on the city’s Far West Side.
June12, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Unidentified officers shot and killed Noel Hernandez, 35, at about 11:15 p.m. Monday after officers responded to a report of a man with a knife in the area of Georgesville Road.
According to Columbus police, the department received a call about a man with a knife in the area of Georgesville and Clime roads. The officers found Hernandez, 35, standing outside an SUV in the street with what the agency described as an “edged weapon,” police said.
Officers gave Hernandez commands in both English and Spanish, which police said Hernandez ignored by getting into the SUV and driving away. Hernandez drove at a slow speed, Columbus police said, and on two other occasions got out of the SUV with the weapon in his hand. The final time he got out of the SUV was at the intersection where the shooting occurred, police said.
Body camera footage released by Columbus police shows Hernandez waving his arms with the weapon in hand as he ran toward officers, five of whom fired at him.
Police said officers tried to use a stun gun two different times unsuccessfully against Hernandez. Officers gave Hernandez medical aid until paramedics took him to OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, where he died.
At the time of the shooting, Chief Elaine Bryant said Columbus police had gotten a call earlier that day from someone concerned about Hernandez’s mental state. Officers had talked to Hernandez at that time, and he told them he was fine and did not need help, Bryant said.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation led the investigation into the shooting before the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office reviewed the case. The prosecutor’s office presented the case to a grand jury for review, which has been the office’s policy for all fatal police shootings.
Reporter Bethany Bruner can be reached at bbruner@gannett.com or on Bluesky at @bethanybruner.dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus officers won’t face charges in Far West Side fatal shooting