Ohio officer shot, robbery chase shuts down highway
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A Columbus police officer was shot Thursday as cruisers chased two armed robbery suspects on the highway.
Around 4 p.m., one Columbus police officer was shot in the leg as cruisers pursued on the highway two suspects accused of robbing a Whitehall car dealership, authorities said. First responders shut down the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 to U.S. Route 40 near West Broad Street — along with a swath of nearby ramps.
The pursuit began after officers were alerted to reports of an armed robbery at a Whitehall car dealership around 2 p.m., where the suspects demanded keys to a car, according to Whitehall Division of Police Lt. Brian Smith. The pair then attempted to rob a nearby bank.
In response, Smith said Columbus police, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and two law enforcement choppers chased the suspects to an intersection at South Souder Avenue and West Mound Street in the Franklinton neighborhood.
The following highway ramps are also closed:
I-70 east closed at Interstate 670
Ramp Interstate 71 north at I-70 west
I-70 west at Rich and Town streets
Ramp State Route 315 to I-70 west
Columbus police had not released any other details as of 4:43 p.m. but confirmed the situation remains active. This is a developing story.
Source: NBC4 WCMH-TV
