Franklin County Grand Jury Votes Not to Indict Columbus Police Officers Involved in 2023 Fatal Shooting

Posted on 6/3/2024

Defendant:

A Franklin County grand jury on Friday voted not to indict eight Columbus Division of Police officers in the shooting death of Abdisamad Ismail.

On July 6, 2023, Columbus police officers responded to an armed bank robbery on Hilliard Rome Road. Police located a stolen Porsche SUV traveling at times more at than 125 miles per hour. The suspects’ vehicle eventually crashed on I-70 near the Mound Street exit. Two suspects fled the scene on foot.

Investigators determined Ismail exited the vehicle and immediately began firing a handgun loaded with an extended magazine, shooting one officer three times. All eight officers returned fire, hitting Ismail numerous times.

Officers administered medical aid to Ismail until an ambulance arrived. Medical personnel pronounced Ismail dead at the scene. The wounded officer survived the shooting with severe and lasting injuries.

The stolen money from the bank robbery was recovered from the vehicle. The two suspects who fled the scene were later arrested and are awaiting trial in Federal Court.

A grand jury only decides whether there is probable cause that a crime has been committed. In this case, the Grand Jurors considered the police officers conduct in light of the applicable law.