COLUMBUS – A man who tried to rob a Columbus SWAT officer at gunpoint was in critical condition Thursday after another officer shot him during a sting operation aimed at nabbing thieves who targeted people who had bought or sold items on social media.
UPDATE: 12/7/18: The officer involved in this incident was identified as Ofc. Vass, a 25-year veteran assigned to the SWAT unit
A SWAT officer posing as a potential buyer or seller met Kyler Collier, 18, in the 2800 block of Duvall Lane on the Southeast Side just before 8:00 Wednesday night to finalize the sale of an item for cash while additional SWAT officers provided cover for the decoy officer, police spokeswoman Sgt. Chantay Boxill said.
Officers set up the sting after receiving reports of robberies of people who had used various social media sites to sell or buy items, Boxill said.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the suspect in this incident. We regret the error
During the exchange, Collier pointed a gun at the decoy officer and robbed him and that is when one of the covering officers fired shot Collier, who tried to leave the scene but was arrested, Boxill said.
He was listed in critical condition at Grant Medical Center. He has been charged with aggravated robbery and Boxill says additional charges may be filed.
Boxill says none of the officers were injured and a gun was recovered at the scene.