COLUMBUS – Columbus police say an officer was being dragged alongside a car when the officer shot and killed the driver on the Southeast Side Wednesday.
UPDATE: The officer involved in the incident has been identified as Ofc. Nicholas Mason, a 10-year veteran of the Columbus Division of Police
Jason Christian, of Whitehall, was stopped at the Mobil gas station at 1509 Lockbourne Road at 5:06 p.m. by two officers because he was suspected in multiple thefts from vehicles around the area and was wanted on traffic warrants, Division of Police spokesman Sgt. Rich Weiner said.
Weiner says witnesses told investigators that the officers approached the car and told Christian, 32, that he had a warrant and was under arrest.
The officers opened the vehicle door and tried to get Christian out of the car when he put the vehicle into drive and accelerated forward, dragging one of the officers, Weiner said.
The car veered to the left, causing the officer to strike a parked vehicle, Weiner said.
As he continued to be dragged, Weiner says the officer pulled his gun, fired multiple times and struck Christian while the vehicle was still dragging the officer through the parking lot.
The car continued forward as Christian and the officer fell from the car, eventually coming to a stop after jumping a curb and hitting a fence, Weiner said.
Christian was taken to Grant Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead just before 6:00 p.m.
The officer was also taken to Grant and was treated for injuries to his legs and arm, Weiner said.
His name has not been released.
Weiner says the shooting was captured on surveillance video.