COLUMBUS, Ohio – Investigators say the gunman who went on a deadly rampage that began in Grove City and ended in Northeast Side parking lot Friday morning was shot several times by police.
The Franklin County coroner says an autopsy shows Danny Thornton, 47, (above) was killed by SWAT officers who tracked him to a Morse Road parking lot.
The SWAT officers involved in the shooting in the parking lot of the Walmart at Morse and Stelzer roads Friday morning were identified as Ofc. Lawrence Brown, a 26-year veteran; Ofc. Glenn Thivener, a 25-year veteran, and Ofc. Steve Smith, a 24-year veteran who was injured during the incident.
Thornton reportedly wanted to die in a “suicide by cop” after killing a former girlfriend’s son, then shooting another ex-girlfriend.
Nine-year-old Jaiden Dixon died of his injuries early Saturday morning, a nursing supervisor at Nationwide Children’s Hospital said.
Police say Thornton shot Jaiden at the Grove City home he shared with his mother and siblings, about a half-hour before walked into the dentist’s office where Vicki Vertin worked, at 4409 Crossroads Center, said “Haven’t seen you in a while” and shot her.
She was transported to Grant Medical Center where she underwent emergency surgery and was listed in critical, but stable condition Friday.