WESTERVILLE, Ohio — The chief of the Westerville Division of Police has placed two officers on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted into the deadly shooting inside Mount Carmel St Ann's Monday afternoon. Two Columbus police officers were also identified.
Westerville police identified Eric Everhart and David Lammert as the officers who had the first encounter with the suspect in the parking lot near the hospital.
"I want to assure the citizens of Westerville that if policy violations are found, there will be an appropriate level of accountability," Chief Charles Chandler said in a release. "In incidents such as this, I must make sure the union contract is followed and there is a proper investigation conducted. The agency, our city and its citizens expect our officers to be held to a high standard and that standard will be upheld."
The shooting happened inside the emergency room at the hospital around 2:15 p.m., according to Westerville police.
The Columbus Division of Police has identified two of its officers involved in the shooting. Andrew Howe and Ryan Krichbaum are 15-year veterans with the division.
Westerville police said the suspect, who was at the hospital being treated for a medical issue, had warrants out for domestic violence weapons charges.
As Westerville police were transferring custody, there was an altercation which led to Columbus police officers and St. Ann's security officers firing their weapons, according to a joint statement from Westerville Police, Columbus Police and Mount Carmel St Ann's.
Staff in the emergency room rendered first aid to the man but he died at the scene.
An initial investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation confirmed that the suspect, later identified as 27-year-old Miles Jackson, was armed with a gun and fired shots.
The Columbus Police officers were identified as Andrew Howe and Ryan Krichbaum. Both officers have been with the Columbus Division of Police for 15 years.
No other injuries occurred inside the hospital as a result of the shooting.
Westerville police said the building is secure and the hospital is accepting patients.
"In the early hours of this investigation, it is not clear what occurred. I appeal to everyone to let us gather the facts and complete the record. That cannot happen overnight. An investigation like this takes an average of 400 hours," Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said.
“People are upset. They're angry right now. We get that. We understand that. We're not trying to talk about or place blame because we weren't there, so we don't have those facts. But we have the basic facts about what happened here,” said Columbus Division of Police Sgt. James Fuqua.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call BCI at 855-224-6446.