Grand Jury Declines to Return Indictment in September 2024 Officer-Involved Shooting

Posted on 6/16/2025

Defendant:

Today, a Franklin County grand jury declined to issue an indictment in the police-involved shooting death of Lamine Mahmoudi, 34.
 
Background
 
Mahmoudi, of Columbus, was shot several times during the early morning of Sept. 10, 2024, after he advanced toward Columbus police officers while brandishing a large butcher knife in one hand and a meat cleaver in the other.
 
Officers from the Columbus Division of Police encountered Mahmoudi at about 1:30 a.m. in the alleyway behind the Columbus Police 4 Precinct substation, 248 E.11th Ave. He ignored the officers’ efforts to de-escalate the situation and their repeated commands to drop the knives.
 
As Mahmoudi stepped into the parking lot area of the substation and advanced toward the officers with the knives raised, five of the officers fired their service weapons, and one officer deployed a Taser. Mahmoudi was struck multiple times. Officers attempted immediate lifesaving measures, but Mahmoudi died at the scene.
 
The grand jury heard testimony and evidence relating to the shooting death and returned a “no bill” decision, which means they concluded there was not enough evidence of guilt to support a criminal charge. A grand jury only considers whether a crime has been committed.