A Bexley man was shot and killed by Columbus Police after he threatened to shoot the officers and himself.
At about 5:11 a.m. Dec. 6, Bexley Police responded to the 2700 block of Bellwood Ave. after receiving a 911 call from the residence.
Officers arrived and spoke to one of two females who lived at the address and were informed that the male resident, Christopher Marcum, 43, had become upset with his live-in girlfriend and was in possession of multiple weapons including a high powered rifle, according to a news release from the Columbus Police.
Officers entered the house and briefly spoke with Marcum who was locked in a bedroom and told the officers he was going to shoot them and then kill himself as the officers heard him load a gun from behind the locked door.
The officers retreated from the house and maintained a perimeter while waiting for assistance from Columbus Police Hostage Negotiators and S.W.A.T., according to the release.
S.W.A.T. personnel took positions near the residence and were waiting for negotiators when Marcum exited the house with a high powered assault rifle.
He was shot as he advanced toward the front gate in the direction of where the officers were positioned. Officers entered the house and found Marcum’s girlfriend in the bedroom with multiple injuries to her head and face as a result of being struck by him.
Marcum was transported to Grant Hospital and later died of his injuries.
As in all police involved shootings, the involved officer(s) will receive mandated psychological support counseling. Officers also are afforded an opportunity to take leave time to assist in recovery from a traumatic experience.
This incident will be investigated by the Critical Incident Response Team made up of specially trained investigators from the Homicide Squad, and the Firearms/Police-Involved Death Review Board.
The final investigative package will be forwarded to the appropriate Columbus Division of Police chain-of-command for review.
