Man shot and killed by Columbus police in University District

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) – A shooting involving multiple Columbus police officers has resulted in one death early Tuesday morning in the city’s University District.

Assistant Police Chief LaShanna Potts confirmed that a suspect was shot and killed in an alley next to a Community Crime Patrol station, at around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Across the street from the substation is an apartment where police are actively investigating what led to the shooting.

According to police the incident started earlier in the evening, when officers were called out on reports of a man threatening to harm himself and others in his apartment. A mobile crisis unit was called and police eventually cleared the area.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., officers were called back to the scene. The suspect was found alone in the apartment and holding an edged weapon. The man refused help and police cleared the scene once again.

Shortly after, police said the man left the apartment towards the alley between the residence and the police substation. Assistant Chief Potts said the man approached the officers while holding multiple weapons, which is when officers fired at the suspect, who was pronounced dead. The Franklin County Coroner’s Office identified the man as 34-year-old Lamine Mahmoudi.

Police said they gave Mahmoudi multiple commands to drop his weapons, only shooting him when he did not comply.

“Those are split second decisions that officers have to make,” Potts said. “And so we support our officers right now and, you know, it’s sad all the way around for everyone involved.”

For some, the shooting was a reminder that more needs to be done about mental health.

“Just truly rips my heart out,” said Hannah Grace Morrison, an OSU student who lives near where this happened. “I know that mental health is a very serious conversation,”

A Bureau of Criminal Investigation unit is at the scene of the shooting, which is the case with all officer involved shootings.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline available 24/7. To reach the 24/7 Crisis Text Helpline, text 4HOPE to 741741.

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