Franklin County Grand Jury Does Not Indict Officers Involved in 2021 Shooting Death of Donta Stewart

Posted on 11/7/2022

Defendant:

A Franklin County grand jury voted today not to indict law enforcement officers involved in the 2021 shooting death of Donta Stewart.

On Dec. 8, 2021, members of the United States Marshall’s Office S.O.F.A.S.T. task force arrived at 2719 Four Seasons Drive in Columbus to serve an arrest warrant on a wanted individual. After confirming that individual was present in the residence and receiving permission to enter the residence, the officers took the wanted person into custody and began a protective clearing of the residence.

As the task force members entered the upstairs bedroom of the residence, Stewart, who moments earlier armed himself with a handgun and hid in the bedroom closet, opened fire,striking one task force member in the chest with a single round. The wounded task force member and three other officers returned fire, striking Stewart. Despite immediately beginning lifesaving measures, Stewart died from his injuries.

A grand jury only decides whether or not a crime has been committed. In this case, the grand jury also looked at whether any degree of unlawful criminal homicide occurred.